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New Coquitlam golf event — with a $50K hole-in-one challenge — to help feed hungry kids

Backpack Buddies, said to feed thousands of children each week, is hosting the inaugural charity event at Coquitlam's Westwood Plateau.
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer
backpackbuddiescoquitlamgolftournamentcollage
Backpack Buddies is hoping to raise funds to help feed hungry kids in the Tri-Cities through a charity tournament at Coquitlam's Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club on June 8, 2023.Backpack Buddies/Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club/Edited by Kyle Balzer, Tri-City News

A new charity event in Coquitlam this week is looking to raise enough funds to make sure all kids are fed.

This especially includes children from low-income families that may still be struggling to put food on the table with the rising cost of living.

On Thursday (June 8), Backpack Buddies is set to host dozens of donors on the local links for its first-ever Birdies and Buddies Golf Tournament.

According to its website, the Metro Vancouver-based non-profit focuses on meals for weekends when school breakfast and lunch programs are not available.

Proceeds raised from the golf tournament, including a raffle, will help benefit those initiatives.

"With our community of donors, volunteers, and caring partners.... we ensure each child has their bag filled with meals and snacks to last the entire weekend," explained Backpack Buddies spokesperson Vishad Deeplaul. 

"We help over 5,000 kids each week in 66 B.C. communities, and we are growing every month."

In the Tri-Cities, students at 21 schools — 12 in Coquitlam, eight in Port Coquitlam and one in Port Moody — receive a bag full of meal items, fresh fruit and snacks.

The first school in the region to join the program, which started in 2012, was Meadowbrook Elementary in Coquitlam.

And those participating in the golf tournament may have some extra motivation on the course as Backpack Buddies is including a $50,000 hole-in-one challenge for its inaugural event.

The raffle prizes feature:

  • One round-trip flight for two guests to any regularly scheduled WestJet destination
  • Two-day rail journey for two with Rocky Mountaineer
  • Sports-lover package with tickets to BC Lions, Whitecaps and golfing
  • Heli-jet flight for two for a return trip to Victoria

Golfers that sign up are set to receive a gift on the first tee, grab'n'go lunches, a shared golf cart and a west coast-style buffet dinner.

The event will be a shotgun start at 12 p.m. on June 8.

For more information, as well as registration details for interested residents, you can visit Backpack Buddies' Birdies and Buddies page.