Braxton County nonprofit combines bake sale, brunch and kickball fundraiser

Dear Heart of Braxton, Inc. put kickball at the center of a Braxton County fundraiser that also folded in a bake sale and a community brunch in Gassaway. The mix gave the new nonprofit a way to draw people in through food and a familiar, easy-to-play sport while building support for local events.

The announcement, dated July 29, 2026, showed how the organization is using simple, social activities to establish itself in Braxton County, West Virginia. Dear Heart of Braxton says it was established in 2026 and is bringing Braxton County together through community events, festivals and gatherings. Its own messaging says upcoming events focus on “simple traditions” such as sharing food and playing together while building the community culture it wants.

Kickball fits that plan. Unlike more formal fundraisers that can feel narrow or expensive to stage, a kickball game can bring in families, neighbors and casual supporters without much equipment or a steep learning curve. In a small county setting, that accessibility can matter as much as the competition itself, because the game becomes a reason to show up, mingle and keep the event visible in public.

That approach was echoed in a Braxton Citizens' News Facebook post that described Dear Heart of Braxton as bringing Gassaway together with upcoming bake sales, brunches and kickball games to support local events. The community-first framing matches the nonprofit’s broader pitch and helps explain why kickball was the draw inside a larger fundraising mix.

For a young organization, the combination also makes practical sense. A bake sale and brunch can generate direct donations, while kickball adds movement, participation and a more open invitation for people who might not attend a traditional benefit. Together, the three pieces turn one local gathering into a wider entry point for supporters who may come for breakfast, for the game or for both.

The event in Gassaway reflects a common pattern in grassroots sports fundraising: kickball works because it lowers the barrier to entry while raising the profile of the cause. In Braxton County, that meant a fundraiser built less like a tournament and more like a community gathering, with the sport serving as the hook that tied the whole day together.