Dodgeball isn’t an official sport, so one might be inclined to not take it seriously, but the game can have a serious impact, and not just on one’s shin.

Key Club held a dodgeball tournament in December to benefit Harvest for Hunter, an annual campaign to fight hunger in 21 counties in Northeast Ohio. Events such as the dodgeball tournament and the Pie the Teachers fundraiser during lunch brought students and teachers together to get involved in school and donate for a cause.

“Playing with a teacher you know can create a fun memory of high school,” Ryan Williams, senior and tournament player, said.

Key Club experienced difficulties in organizing the events, such as getting teachers to sign up, promoting the events, and finding volunteers to run the events, but the benefits outweigh the positives.

While the SHS contribution may be small, Harvest for Hunger is a collaboration between schools, food banks, and many others. In 2024, the organization collected over $9.77 million and thousands of pounds of food, providing 29.4 million meals to Ohioans.

As unlikely as it may seem, the impact the dodgeball tournament made on the community proved to be a success, giving Key Club members valuable experience to put on college applications, helping involve more students in school events, and providing meals to families all over Northeastern Ohio.