Woodland youth baseball team offers delicious twist to fundraising

The FCA Woodland Lumberjacks, a youth baseball club, is raising money by selling barbecue tri-tip sandwiches on Saturday. The group started cooking this week and could sell as many as 2,000 sandwiches. Photo courtesy Jason Guajardo

Possibly 2,000 barbecue tri-tip sandwiches on the menu Saturday for FCA Woodland Lumberjacks

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

It’s barbecue.

It’s baseball.

It’s barbecue for baseball.

A year ago, a youth baseball club from Woodland offered an interesting twist to fundraising. No need for a car wash. Pepperoni sticks are out of date..

But everyone loves barbecue, right?

A barbecue sandwich, chips, and bottled water costs $12 at a fundraiser that sold 600 sandwiches a year ago. The fundraiser for FCA Woodland Lumberjacks was so successful that organizers hope to sell up to 2,000 sandwiches this year. Photo courtesy Irma Guajardo

Well, it sure seemed that way in 2022. The team was going to sell barbecue tri-tip sandwiches from 10 a.m. until about 7 p.m. Instead, the team ran out of sandwiches by 1:15 in the afternoon — after selling some 600 sandwiches.

This Saturday, the FCA Woodland Lumberjacks are at it again, but with more than three times the amount of meat and, of course, the potential for more than three times the number of sandwiches.

“The Woodland community, when you post and say there is a need there, they just show up. They come together,” said Jenni Guajardo, the fundraising manager for the Lumberjacks, a traveling baseball team. “They ask how they can help.”

The fundraiser, held as a pop-up event outside of the Woodland Corner Store, was a huge success. Guajardo loved the feedback the team received on social media.

“This was incredible.”

“Do more next year.”

“Don’t run out.”

The Lumberjacks listened.

Last year, a local butcher paid for and donated all of the meat, almost 218 pounds.

This year, the team found a great deal on a little more than 300 pounds, and a butcher donated another 300-plus pounds.

This year’s sale once again will be held outside of Woodland Corner Store, 1697 Lewis River Road. The plan is to start at 10 a.m. Saturday and go until supplies last. But this year, it is possible the group could sell 2,000 sandwiches.

Sandwiches are $12 and come with chips and a bottle of water. Organizers warn that they will run out of chips and water at the 1,300-mark. Frito Lay donated 1,300 bags of chips and Les Schwab Tires donated 1,300 bottles of water.

Jenni’s husband Jason started cooking earlier this week. The Lumberjacks are preparing to be busy again.

Money raised goes toward travel, uniforms, tournament fees and other baseball-related expenditures. The Lumberjacks are part of the Future Christians of America.

“We’re a competitive travel baseball league inspiring young boys for excellence on and off the field,” Jenni Guajardo said.

She added that the Lumberjacks are grateful for all the community support.