A double match in the men’s competition. There were over 60 teams and 178 registered players at tihs years Helping Heroes Pickleball tournament.

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

WINONA LAKE — “This is important to me,” said Pierceton Police Officer James “Tex” Hastings. What he is talking about is the 2025 Helping Heroes Fest that began today, Saturday, July 19 and continues Sunday, July 20.

The event is organized by Project Ebenezer, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellness of first responders.

Hastings said six years ago he lost his best friend. “He shot himself and killed himself, this is one of the reasons why I want to support this. He wasn’t in law enforcement, he was a truck driver but even then we forget to check on each other. That’s what this is for. We always forget to check on each other and make sure that everyone is better. To just be better mentally wise.”

Boton Fanning tries out the fireman’s obstacle course.

Hasting stated his job takes a toll on him. Not just police officers, but firefighters, EMS personnel as well. While they joke with each other, “what we see, it takes a toll on you. It takes a huge toll on you. We just want to make sure we’re all OK.”

This is the second year for the event, with more players registered than last year. R.J. Nethaway, president of the local Project Ebenezer organization, deemed this years event as being good. “The weather has been good so far, it’s warm, but we’ve got the misting fans and misting tent. We’ve had a good turnout.”

There were over 60 teams registered for the first day. “So we have 178 people registered,” he said. Those individuals were playing in men’s and women’s doubles Saturday and some of the same people will be playing in the mixed doubles tournament on Sunday. “With 178 registered people, that translates to more teams than what it appears, because some of them play together with the mixed doubles.

“We definitely have felt the support of everybody,” said Nethaway. “The sponsors have been amazing and people calling us. We had people calling us today asking if they could be a sponsor. It’s been really good”

Back up plans are also in place should the rains come and even stick around. “Even if it rains hard for a short period of time, Midwest Rig donated some super nice squeezes to help us clear the court. Then we have blowers and we’ll get the courts dried off and get play resumed,” said Nethaway. “But if it were to settle in and be a constant rain, the courts get slicked. So we reserved the GHawk building at Grace and we’ll move everything insidee, even the events that are going on.”

Lilli Mann opts to carry an airpack when she does the obstacle course and gets a hand from Cody Bixler with the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory and Silver Lake fire departments.

The GHawk building is the student recreation center at Grace.

While the dollar amount raised will not be known until the conclusion of the event, Nethaway feels they raised more money than last year. “We had 44 additional people sign up this year than last year so our registration numbers are up and there is obviously the foot traffic.”

In addition to the entry fee for the pickleball tournament, there are 60 items being raffled off. The items, which were mostly pickleball related, also included gift certificates, beach bag, a crocheted blanket, wine basket, first responder wooden flags, pool party and BBQ gift baskets, special packages for limited time free services, a pan of cinnamon rolls or gourmet cupcakes, and more.

The event was also a time for friends and families, who gathered at picnic tables, set up areas with chairs and blankets to enjoy the festivities.

There was also plenty of activities for nonpickleball players and kids. All events will continue on Sunday.

The events include a police K9 demonstration, building a first aid kit, a firefighter obstacle course, a chance to see the law enforcement emergency response team and Warsaw Dive Team vehicles and their specialty equipment and tools. If that doesn’t interest you maybe the opportunity for face painting, temporary tattoos or hair tinsel might. There will also be arts and crafts such as rock painting, coloring and bracelet making.

Of course no event is complete with out food. The It’s All Good Food Truck, provided by Fellowship Missions, and the Kona Ice truck will be on hand, rain or shine.

So if you missed out on the events Saturday, head out to Winona Lake Park Sunday (or GHawk Rec Center at Grace College if it is raining) and have some fun and learn about a program that helps first responders in the county. Events are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.