HUNTLEY — Jim Moellendorf, a Sun City resident collects golf balls. Through the efforts of many friends and fellow golfers, he has collected thousands of them.
But why?
Jim Moellendorf sorts collected golf balls and packages them in egg cartons. He then sells the golf balls and donates 100% of the proceeds to the Grafton Food Pantry. In 2022, he donated approx. $3,000. (Photo by Christine Such/My Sun Day News)
Moellendorf donates 100 percent of the proceeds of the sales to the Grafton Food Pantry. “The sales have allowed me to donate about $3000 in 2022. This is matched 8 to 1 in groceries by the Illinois Food Bank. That’s $24000 in groceries to feed the hungry,” Moellendorf said.
He also has his own process of getting the golf balls ready.
Moellendorf said, “I clean the balls with some elbow grease and then sort them. The lower-quality balls are sold to driving ranges. Currently, I have four driving range locations that are purchasing these golf balls. The premium balls are sold through sports bars. I sort them into egg cartons.”
Moellendorf’s home sits near the ninth hole, and many wayward balls have found their way into his yard.
“I golf three days a week, and my wife and I are on Sun City Golf Leagues. We find quite a few golf balls. Neighbors and friends are always keeping me busy with balls that they have gathered. One of my friends drove down south to pick up 1800 balls that were stored in a basement and garage of an acquaintance. 10 balls weigh about a pound. His car was weighed down on the way back to Huntley.”
300 million golf balls are discarded in the U.S. each year. Often these golf balls, which can be comprised of cheap heavy metal fillers, are found in landfills and aquifers.
Moellendorf said, “It can take golf balls 100 to 1,000 years to decompose. They present an environmental problem to the planet.”
What are his goals for the future?
“I hope to find more venues to sell the premier golf balls. I also want to participate in the consumer showcase here in Sun City and sell the premier golf balls. I am hoping that the registration fee will be waived by the association since all the proceeds will be donated to the Grafton Food Pantry,” Moellendorf said.
Harriet Ford, on the Board of Directors at the Grafton Food Pantry said, “Jim’s golf ball project has been a unique and generous source for donations. He has been so creative and enthusiastic in his support of Grafton Food Pantry and our efforts to end hunger in our community. We are so appreciative of his continued support and commitment.”
The program has been successful not only because people need golf balls, but also because they want to help the cause. If you would like to contribute the effort, you can donate your found golf balls or select the renewed golf balls of your choice. You can reach Moellendorf at jim.moellendorf@gmail.com.
Moellendorf credits his friends and neighbors for the success of this endeavor.
“I am the band leader and they are the orchestra,” he said.
