Kickball tourney backs Toys for Tots

Dodgeball is a game many of us played in grade school and haven't seen that giant rubber globe since. But a group of Shafter residents dusted off their sneakers Saturday and played in a kickball tournament to benefit the Toys for Tots organization. All of the proceeds went to the group and there was another Toy Drop-off event held at the tournament site, Veterans Park. The event was sponsored by Big Dog Presents and Acelaredos Off Road.

Several teams kicked their way around the diamond, bringing back memories of grade school PE class and having a great time in the process. The winning team won a trophy and bragging rights for the holiday season. But the big winners here are the children of Shafter, who will benefit with a large cache of toys.

These toys will be given out on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, at the Shafter Veterans Hall at 9 a.m. Each child in attendance will receive one toy, while the supplies last.

At the tournament on Saturday morning, there was a large table set up that held the toys collected so far, with another Toys For Tots box at the site as well. Entry fee for the tournament was a $10 wrapped gift for a child.

To finish off the event, a large convoy of off road vehicles, trucks and decorated cars were at the park, participating in their own Christmas Parade. The convoy of vehicles went down Los Angeles Avenue and wound its way all through the downtown area, back to Veterans Park, blaring Christmas music with brightly colored vehicles and costumed participants, as well as huge inflatables on board some of the vehicles.

Rick Sharp, a Shafter resident who drives a bus for the Richland School District was there in his lifted truck, He said what everyone else was saying throughout the day. "It's all for the children!" It's for the kids!"