(La Porte, IN) - La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody, along with first responders, will compete in a fundraising basketball tournament this evening at the Civic Auditorium, the money raised to help pay for a mission trip to New York City by a select number of teenagers with the Agape Christian Church in La Porte.

 

Church member Cassie Lipscomb said the teens are with La Porte Youth Unite, a group that meets every Thursday morning and now every Sunday night at the church for Bible study and devotions. She said eight of the teens have signed up so far for the trip they want to take to help the homeless and other unfortunate people.

 

“They want to stop in every state from Indiana to New York to drop off blessing bags to homeless people or those who might need something,” she said.

 

The blessing bags will contain items like shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, and granola bars.

 

The mayor has a team in what’s called the “Battle of the Badges” tournament. Other teams consist of police and firefighters from La Porte, members of the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police, and the New Carlisle Fire Department. The first game of the tournament is between the mayor’s team and the La Porte Police Department team at 5 p.m. The championship game will start around 9 p.m.   

 

The cost of admission is a donation of whatever people want to give.  

 

Lipscomb said the trip is planned from July 21st-28th.