By Jasmine DeFreitas
RANGELY | Amtgard, a worldwide organization dedicated to medieval and fantasy combat sports and recreation, has seen its members band together to combat a more modern and real-world issue: hunger. The Rangely and Grand Junction Larpers, known as Yggdrasil’s Oasis and Phoenix Rise respectively, recently joined forces to host a bake sale. Their aim? To raise funds for Rangely’s Backpack program, an initiative designed to send kid-friendly, easy-to-prepare meals home over the weekend and school breaks.
The bake sale, held on Saturday, Sept. 16, in Grand Junction, was a part of Amtgard’s annual “food fight.” This non-profit organization hosts this event every year to raise funds for food banks and similar programs, with members also taking up volunteering opportunities such as serving in soup kitchens.
The result of the bake sale was a phenomenal success, raising $610 in total for the backpack program. This was a sum far greater than either of the event organizers, Jasmine DeFreitas from Rangely, and Alicia Swift from Grand Junction, anticipated.
Swift planned the event to take place during the annual Comic Con at Mesa County Library and served the dual purpose of teaching the community about the “joy of live action roleplaying and good sportsmanship, or as we like to say in Amtgard, ‘Good Honor!’” Swift explained.
“We’ve never done this before, so I wasn’t sure what our turnout would be,” DeFreitas said. Despite her initial uncertainty, she was overwhelmed by the support and the results. DeFreitas, who has been part of Amtgard for just over a year, expressed her love for the non-profit organization’s focus on ways to help the community, from clean-ups to bake sales.
Swift agreed, “It was an amazing turnout, both volunteers from our parks and lovely people buying goodies for a wonderful cause!” Swift, another Amtgard member, was thrilled with the success of the event. “I love seeing our members work diligently toward a cause that I think we all have a little stake in. My family and I benefited from a program like this during a rough time and we know how much of a blessing it can be with the ends just don’t quite meet.” More than 20 volunteers contributed their time, baked goods, and positive energy to the event. Both DeFreitas and Swift hope to replicate this success next year.
“I was so excited to work with everyone to build this opportunity to give something back to the community that supports Amtgard events throughout the summer months. This year there were three separate events and the folks of Rangely are always so hospitable and kind when we invade their businesses in our game garb.”
It wasn’t just the organizers who were integral to the success of the event. Kellen LeFevre of Rangely supported the bake sale efforts by volunteering his time to wave passers-by to the stand throughout the day. Matthew Morgan, also of Rangely, contributed by baking rolls, which proved to be a hit during the event.
The event saw many volunteers supporting the stand throughout the day. It was so successful, there was little left to take home. Swift credits Dana Hicks (Lady Dahlia of Phoenix Rise) with making arrangements with the representatives of Mesa County Library for allowing the bake sale during the annual Comic Con. “I have no doubt we owe a large part of our success to them and all the wonderful people that attended this year. We’re looking forward to making this an annual event!”
For those interested in joining or learning more about Amtgard, Phoenix Rise meets on Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. at Sherwood Park in Grand Junction, and Yggdrasil’s Oasis meets Saturdays at 12 p.m. at Elk’s Park in Rangely.
