KC community continues to rally around Martin family
KARNS CITY — “We just felt a need to do more.”
Those were the words of Krista Ritzert, a Karns City cheerleading parent, when it comes to supporting seriously injured Karns City quarterback Mason Martin and his family.
Martin was injured during the Gremlins’ home game against Redbank Valley last week. He remains hospitalized while recovering from a brain bleed and collapsed lung.
Ritzert and Rebecca Huff, another KC cheerleading parent, have spearheaded a benefit dinner for the Martin family on Sept. 17. The event will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at the Sugarcreek Firehall at 110 Rodgers Road in East Brady.
Bob Hackbarth, treasurer of the Gremlin Quarterback Club, announced the club has created a Martin Family Fund to receive monetary donations to help the family.
“We know there’s a couple of GoFundMe accounts out there for the family,” Hackbarth said. “There’s no goal in terms of amount of money raised here, but they’re going to need a lot.
“It’s not only what Mason’s going through now, but for his future recovery. We all want to do everything we can possibly do to help.”
The Gremlin Quarterback Club has roughly 50 members. Some are parents and relatives of current players, others have been longtime supporters of the football program.
“We had our meeting Tuesday night and we’ve done all the paperwork with the bank to set up the account,” Hackbarth said. “There’s so much love and care out there for Mason and his family ... We just want to give people an avenue to support them.”
Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Martin family may send a check to Gremlin Quarterback Club, P.O. Box G, Karns City, Pa., 16041 Attn: Martin Family Fund.
The Gremlin Quarterback Club is also lending volunteer assistance to the Sept. 17 benefit dinner. Barbecue chicken, potatoes, baked beans and dessert will be available for $15.
The dinner will include live music, an all-day 50-50 raffle, and a basket raffle.
“It’s all volunteer,” Ritzert said of the dinner. “It will be an event more than a dinner. Everything has been donated — the food, workers, baskets — everything.”
She added that more than 200 baskets have been put together. Some have been donated by businesses, others created by families.
“People will be able to buy a chance on whatever baskets they have interest in winning,” Ritzert said. “The drawings will be made that day. Winners won’t have to be present.”
Ritzert said they expect “to serve more than 1,200 meals that day.”
She hopes they can serve more.
If and when the food runs out, the basket raffle and 50-50 will continue, Ritzert emphasized.
“We encourage anyone who wants to support the Martin family to come out that day,” she said. “It’s going to be quite an event. We have no goal in terms of how much money we want to raise.
“It’s a win anytime we can raise money for that family.”
