WEST SPRINGFIELD – “Crack!” Jim French’s club hit the ball and sent it flying through the fall air, down the fairway, while the sound of Guns N’ Roses played from the golf cart.

French, of Charlton, and his team of four were participating in the second annual Feed the Kids Golf Tournament that was held at the Springfield Country Club in West Springfield on Sept. 30.

 “It’s a good day and a noble cause. The people running it have big hearts and God bless them,” said French of the Feed the Kids organization.

 The golf tournament benefited No Kid Hungry, a national non–profit “that raises funds to support school breakfast programs, summer meals, after school meals and more for children throughout the country,” the Holyoke Weekend Backpack program, and the Pioneer Valley Power Pack. The two local programs fill backpacks with nutritional food for school children who face food insecurity on the weekends.

This was the first year Feed the Kids worked with the backpack programs. It has worked with No Kid Hungry since it began operating last year.

“Too many kids go to bed hungry,” said Mary Kay Kadushin, who co–founded Feed the Kids with her husband Dr. Fred Kadushin. Mary Kay said one in six children in the United States is food insecure. Similarly, feedingamerica.org estimates childhood food insecurity affects 12.5 million children.

In its first year, the tournament had 68 registered golfers. This year the number of golfers more than doubled, to 139. The cost of the tournament was $160 per person, which included 18 holes of golf, lunch, a cocktail hour, prizes and dinner. Last year, Mary Kay said, the tournament raised $39,000 for No Kid Hungry.

“This year will blow it out of the water,” said Fred. He estimated the amount raised this year was well over $50,000.

Two area companies each sponsored a hole–in–one challenge during the tournament. Hole 14 was sponsored by Teddy Bear Pools, which offered a spa to any golfer who could score a hole–in–one. Curry Honda offered a 2019 Honda Civic for the same feat on hole 18. A $1,000 American Express travel card was also up for grabs for scoring a hole–in–one.

“We have a good board and a lot of sponsors. It’s really a group effort,” said Fred.

Aside from the participation fee, there was a live auction during dinner and a silent auction throughout the day.

“People are so generous. All of our auction items are donated,” Mary Kay said. The items ranged from a one–year membership to Berkshire Botanical Gardens worth $50, to eight trips to different island destinations which were each valued at $1,200 or more.

“There’s hungry kids all over our country and people aren't aware, and we just want to raise awareness,” said Mary Kay said of the reason she and her husband began Feed the Kids, which now consists of about 20 volunteers.

“People really want to help, and they want to do good,” said Mary Kay.