Saint Stephen Church Raises $3200 for a Water Well

Croquet tournament participants at Saint Stephen Lutheran Church included, first row, from left: Liz Greer, Pam Narahara, John Narahara, Ann Weston, Stan Hanson, Emily Hanson, Linda Hanson, Elaine Recklet, Peter Recklet. Second row: Harold Greer, Frank Dutt, Marlea Dutt.

A village in need will have a clean, safe, convenient water source, thanks to the members and friends of Saint Stephen Lutheran Church, Marlborough, who raised a total of $3270 as part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) World Hunger Water Well Project.  Last week’s Wickets for a Water Well Croquet Tournament capped the fund-raising effort, which also included a coin jug at church and online giving.
    Fun and food characterized the tournament at Saint Stephen, which attracted six, 2-person teams, along with enthusiastic well-wishers who cheered on the participants and enjoyed ice cream, root beer floats (a crowd favorite), banana splits, milkshakes, and apple pie. After a first round, the top four teams engaged in a playoff round. 
    First prize went to Hudson residents Marlea and Frank Dutt, “The Strikers,” second to Pam and John Narahara of Marlborough, “The Ninja Warriors,” and third to Elaine and Peter Recklet of Hudson, “The Seahawks.” Their friendly opponents included Linda and Stan Hanson, “The Treble Makers,” the team of Emily Hanson and Ann Weston, and the team of Elizabeth and Harold Greer.
    Melanie Whapham of Marlborough, who organized Sunday’s event, said the croquet tournament, “with a very creative set of Saint Stephen Rules of Play, looks to be a keeper. Watch for the Croquet Tournament and Ice Cream Social to be an annual event.” 
    The tournament raised $790, the coin jug $350, and the remainder came from online giving. Wickets for a Water Well was also a Thrivent Action Team project. 
    The ELCA World Hunger Water Well Project works to provide safe water systems like wells, spring boxes and boreholes;  provide health, hygiene and sanitation programs; and  provide agricultural irrigation systems in three corners of the globe – the United States, Zimbabwe and in China.