It might be a simple dodgeball game at first glance. For the participants, however, it was intense, glow-in-the-dark competition. For the parents, they were supporting a good cause and having fun all at the same time.

Members of the community gathered Saturday night for glow-in-the-dark dodgeball games at Parks and Recreation, battling one another in the dim glow of each other’s T-shirts. For the adults watching on, this was a chance for their organizations to stand out in their community.

Carter County Drug Prevention Director Jilian Reece said the tournament was a fundraiser for the organization, with Parks and Rec’s continued partnership.

“Parks and Rec is one of our best partners,” Reece said. “It is so important we offer safe, fun activities in our community.”

The fundraiser came from the concessions they sold throughout the evening, while the event itself was free to the public.

She said it was more than a simple fundraiser, however. It was one more step towards becoming a fully self-sufficient nonprofit.

“We are primarily funded off of one grant,” she said. “We have been working really hard to become our own 501 (c)(3).”

Part of this effort requires working under a financial agent for three years to prove they can remain self-sufficient, a benchmark they reached roughly a few months ago thanks to events like this.

“This is a good time for us,” Reece said. “We want to be sustainable.”

The dodgeball tournaments Saturday night represented the community’s perception of CCDP. Reece said the turnout was impressive, with different tournaments throughout the night for different age brackets. Dozens of children and their parents attended.

Later in the evening, characters and mascots started coming out to encourage the players, including the Abominable Snowman and Scooby-Doo.

Some participants were so into the competition they wore glow-in-the-dark face paint. Some of the parents did the same.

The event is also part of a continued partnership with Parks and Rec, who have been working with CCDP to host monthly events similar to this.

“Kelly [Kitchens] is working so hard to plan events people of all ages want to go to,” Reece said.

As CCDP continues to grow, Reece said the best way to get involved is to attend their monthly coalition meetings. They have various committees that tackle specific areas of focus, such as schools, adults and more.

“We try to plug them to where their talents lie,” she said.