Fruita Monument High School's softball and wrestling teams are holding a community fundraiser this Saturday, October 10, selling pumpkins donated by local Bernal Farms to support their athletic programs. The event, set to begin at 9 a.m. at The CO-OP Tower in Fruita, aims to generate funds crucial for covering operational expenses as athletes prepare for their upcoming seasons.
The fundraiser is a direct response to budget limitations that can impact student participation in team activities. Joseph Bernal, owner of Bernal Farms, explained his family farm's decision to donate the pumpkins. He stated that coaches made him aware of challenges in taking all players—across varsity, junior varsity, and C teams—on necessary trips. Bernal emphasized the community benefit, noting that "with these extra fundraisers, they’re able to take more kids and give more kids opportunity." This increased access for more students to participate in team travel and competitions was a key motivator for the donation.
Coaches for both the softball and wrestling programs confirmed that the additional funding from such events is vital. These proceeds help to cover a range of team expenses, including necessary equipment, uniforms, and travel costs associated with competitions. Without these supplementary funds, coaches face difficulties in ensuring all athletes can participate fully in their respective seasons. Randi Denton, the Fruita Monument softball coach, highlighted the practical challenges teams face, particularly the limited time available for extensive fundraising efforts due to the brevity of their sports seasons. Denton described the pumpkin fundraiser as a "huge, huge benefit" for the programs, underscoring its importance in allowing teams to focus more on practice and less on the time-consuming aspects of fundraising.
The collaborative effort between Bernal Farms and Fruita Monument High School aims to directly benefit the student athletes by mitigating financial barriers. All proceeds generated from the sale of pumpkins and baked goods at Saturday's event will be split evenly between the softball and wrestling programs. For those unable to attend the in-person sale at The CO-OP Tower, community members can also contact Fruita Monument Softball through their Facebook page or Fruita Monument Wrestling via their Instagram account to arrange for pumpkin delivery, offering flexible ways for the community to contribute to the student athletes' success. This initiative allows local residents to directly support the athletic endeavors of Fruita Monument students, ensuring more opportunities for participation and reducing the financial strain on the teams.