Pickleball for a Cause: Mall of America Hosts Event to Fight Child Hunger

BLOOMINGTON, Minnesota – The rotunda at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, hosted a unique event on Saturday, March 1, 2026: a 12-hour competitive pickleball tournament benefiting Every Meal, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating child hunger.

Addressing Food Insecurity in Minnesota

Every Meal focuses on providing Weekend Food Bags to children in need. According to Every Meal Founder and President Rob Williams, the organization has been facing increased demand. “We’ve provided almost 40,000 bags of food since January for that specific mission of serving those people at home,” Williams stated. This is in addition to the 13,000 children Every Meal serves weekly through its regular weekend meal program, providing bags of food on Fridays for weekend consumption.

Community Engagement and Awareness

The pickleball event served as a platform to raise awareness about Every Meal’s efforts and engage the community in supporting their mission. Williams explained, “That’s what we’re about. Engaging the community to produce sure kids in their community have the food they need to learn, grow, thrive and be a part of that community.” The event aimed to attract attention and educate attendees about the organization and its function.

About Every Meal

Every Meal is a nonprofit organization committed to fighting child hunger by providing food for children facing food insecurity. Their Weekend Food Bag program ensures children have access to nutritious meals when school is not in session.

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