Golf outing raises $12,000 for Benny’s Bodega

Benny’s Bodega’s first golf outing raised slightly more than $12,000 for the nonprofit organization based in Newton.

Nearly 60 golfers took part in the event July 15 at Farmstead Golf & Country Club in Lafayette.

More than 50 families and businesses sponsored the event.

Audi of Newton, the hole-in-one sponsor, offered the golfers an opportunity to win a new car.

Benny’s Bodega, which is funded fully by the community, operates a store serving more than 1,500 people a month at 166 Spring St., Newton. It carries perishable and nonperishable food, clothing, cleaning supplies, diapers/wipes, hygiene supplies and pet supplies, which are free to working struggling families, veterans and senior citizens.

“Our mission is to be a community hub pioneering support for A.L.I.C.E. (Asset. Limited. Income. Constrained. Employed.), senior and veteran populations. The bodega offers a unique freedom to shop and select basic-needs items free of charge in a warm and friendly environment,” said co-founder Heather Davey.

After the golf, the bodega hosted a lunch and awards ceremony for the participants.

Benjamin Davey, co-founder of Benny’s Bodega, told them, “We are helping a population of people who are truly trying so hard to help themselves: hard-working families, veterans and senior citizens. These populations often fall between the cracks of the ‘system,’ making ‘too much’ to receive any government help but not making enough to survive. That is where we come in; we are a hand up to those families, and we can only do the work that we do because of people like you. Thank you.”

Jessica Garrigan, who with her husband, Jason, helped organize the fundraiser, said, “This money will be put toward ensuring the bodega stays open to serve the families who need the resource.”

The nonprofit aims to find a larger location to keep up with the growing population using its services.