Over 80 disc golfers from across Michiana braved subzero temperatures at Ox Bow Park Saturday for the Maple City Ice Bowl, an annual winter tournament that raises money for local food pantries. This year, the event set a national record, raising more than $43,000 for The Window in Goshen.
Jason Samuel, the tournament organizer, says the cause is deeply personal.
"The reason this is really important to me is because I was a hungry kid. I remember watching cartoons on a Saturday morning, waiting for somebody to come by and bring groceries," Samuel said.
He adds the event is about leaving a lasting impact.
"That's kind of my position, paying it forward and doing something that, you know, we're impacting people's lives for the better and forever," he said.
Naomi Leary, executive director of The Window, says the generosity of participants goes beyond just showing up in the cold.
"One thing that I heard again and again is we're cold out here having fun, but there are also people who are cold because they don't have what they need," Leary said.
She says the donations will directly support families and seniors across the county.
"We feed about 1,000 households every month and we also do Meals on Wheels. And we also feed here in our lunchroom between 50 and 70 people every day," Leary said.
Both Samuel and Leary say the record-breaking turnout demonstrates the power of the Michiana community.
