New Pequea Valley head football coach Andy Tibbins is hoping to see some new faces in Kinzers on Friday nights this fall.

Getting the community invested in the high school football team will be instrumental in that effort. The first step is the team's upcoming inaugural "Bags in the Valley" cornhole fundraiser at the stadium on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 1.

For the fundraiser, the team and booster club are inviting those in the community to partner up in teams of two and compete in a traditional cornhole tournament, with cash prizes for the winners of the competitive "upper" division and noncompetitive "lower" division.

"Part of this change is a shift in the overall culture of how we function," Tibbins said. "Not just as a football team, but as a booster club. I wanted it to be a community type thing."

On the day of the rain-or-shine event, gates will open at 4:30 p.m. Registration will begin at that time and run through 5:45 p.m.; the tournament will commence 15 minutes after that point. Pequea Valley's football stadium is located on its primary campus, 4033 E. Newport Road, Kinzers.

Along with the cash prizes, there will be a 50-50 drawing and drawings for baskets with items donated by community members and businesses. The Lancaster Stormers, Laserdome and Rere's Cafe were provided as examples of potential baskets. Individuals need to be present at the event to win.

Lapp Valley and Welders Steak Shack will have food trucks at the event. Pequea Valley Fire Department will have a fire truck at the event for the younger audience; face painting will also be offered.

In the past, the Braves have relied on more traditional fundraisers, like going from door to door or phone-a-thons. Tibbins and the booster club are hoping that people enjoy the fundraiser, build a connection with the team and then elect to come out and support them on Friday nights.

"We're trying to get the community together," said Jess Mowday, president of the Pequea Valley football boosters. "We want the ones that don't have anything to do on a Friday night to come out and support these kids."

On Saturday, Sept. 26, the team will hold a separate duck derby fundraiser. The team will send 1,000 rubber/plastic ducks down the Pequea Creek, with the top 10 finishers winning a cash prize. Individuals do not need to be present to win.

For more information about both fundraisers, search "Pequea Valley Football Booster Club" on Facebook. Updated details on how to register will be available closer to the event.

"The idea of it is to have more people come here on a Friday night and create something," Tibbins said.