By David Slone
Times Union

WARSAW — Proceeds from the Helping Heroes Pickleball Tournament at Limitless Park in Winona Lake Aug. 17-18 will go toward first responder mental health.

At the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory board meeting Tuesday, EMS Chief Chris Fancil said the folks of Project Ebenezer are sponsoring the tournament.

“So I would encourage anyone who is available to at least try to attend that. There’s going to be some opportunities for food and games for kids, and things for other people to do,” he said.

While he doesn’t play pickleball himself, Fancil said he will be there to help out.

“Their goal is to just focus on, and have the financial means to, help first responders and take care of mental health for the first responders in our community,” he said.

Last he heard, there were over 70 teams signed up.

“It’s going to be two days of pickleball. I’ll probably understand the game by the time the tournament’s over,” Fancil said, adding that the community is lucky to have it.

According to information provided Tuesday via email from Paige Wood, president of Project Ebenezer Inc., 100% of the profits from the event goes to Project Ebenezer, which supports the mental health and wellness of Kosciusko County first responders.

The funds raised from this event will allow Project Ebenezer to continue supporting Kosciusko County first responders with mental health resources.

Project Ebenezer serves the hundreds of police, fire, dispatchers, jailers and medics (including active, volunteer and retired) in Kosciusko County with financial resources for mental health therapy, medications, training and events.

Project Ebenezer also supports the Peer to Peer Support Programs being developed at the various first responder agencies by providing resources and events centered around healthy mental health. They are currently servicing several first responders from various departments by providing them with access to therapy for post traumatic stress due to the cumulative stress they have experienced from their careers.

Project Ebenezer has conducted a PTSD awareness training for the Warsaw Police and Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory this year, provided speakers for a couple events, and will be speaking at additional training events this year.

Project Ebenezer will be providing meals for first responders who serve on the Peer Support teams as they attend a week-long CISM training to learn how to respond to first responders in crisis situations. Project Ebenezer will also be providing a meal for first responders attending a peer to peer support dinner where the families of newly hired first responders in Kosciusko County will learn about the signs and symptoms of PTSD, how to be proactive with their first responders mental health and wellness, and the resources accessible for their first responder and family, according to the information provided.

On Aug. 17, there will be kids activities including a police K9 demonstration, arts/crafts, EMS hands-on activities and first responder vehicles for kids to look at and take pictures with.

There will be lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 17-18 open to the public. There will be burgers, hotdogs, nachos, pie slices, brownies, etc. for purchase with 100% of the money going to Project Ebenezer.

There will also be a raffle with tickets available for purchase from the public as well. The drawing will be Aug. 18 at the conclusion of the event. You do not need to be present to win.

To learn more, people can visit the Facebook page under Project Ebenezer.

As of Tuesday, Wood said they have 113 participants registered for the pickleball tournament.