Brooms Up, Paddles Out! is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, on Nashawannuck Pond, where dozens of costumed participants are expected to launch on paddleboards and kayaks around 5:30 p.m. The fundraiser benefits the Easthampton Community Center, and organizers have set October 28 as a rain date. Participants are encouraged to wear costumes and donate $10 or more, WWLP-22News reported.
The center behind the fundraiser
The Easthampton Community Center says it has served families in the greater Easthampton area for more than 46 years. Its listed services include a Food Pantry, Community Care Kitchen and Clothing Closet, according to the center’s About page. The City of Easthampton says the center can help local residents in need with groceries, with pickup and delivery options available.
Regional figures offer broader context, but not a measure of need in Easthampton: the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts reported that more than 122,000 people accessed food assistance each month in FY2025 across the region. That figure is not specific to the city or the Community Center, according to the Food Bank.
What is known about the event
The event announcement names the Community Center as the beneficiary but does not specify whether donations will be directed to a particular program. The regional food-assistance figure does not establish the center’s caseload or how fundraiser proceeds will be used. The announced details are a launch around 5:30 p.m. on Nashawannuck Pond on October 27, a rain date of October 28, and a suggested donation of $10 or more, WWLP reported.
