In their own words, the Chicken N Pickle national entertainment complex has “traded pickleball for philanthropy” for six years now. Pickleball fanatics might have noticed that September 2nd marked a different kind of day, where all Chicken N Pickle locations, nationwide, were shuttered, closed, oh my! Not because no one wanted to wield paddles against balls, but because the tradition has been created to celebrate Labor Day in a truly philanthropic way each year. All employees are asked to spend the Tuesday after the Labor Day holiday giving (while still getting paid) their time and talents to local charities. The effort is named, “Our Hearts Are Local Day,” and the premise is to give back to the communities Chicken N Pickle calls home. This year marked the sixth annual OHAL.
The company has 13 locations, nationwide, with two of those being in Kansas City. With more than 2,000 employees across the nation, this is quite a commitment to giving back. The people who are normally hosting guests on the courts are spending the day lending a hand where it is needed most. From walking dogs to sorting diapers, it has become the cornerstone of the company’s mission to “strengthen community connections through service.” Kelli Alldredge, president, said, “This is one of the most meaningful days of the year for us, … it is about rolling up our sleeves, getting out into the neighborhoods we serve, and living our values. Our teams love it, and we’re proud of the impact we’ve made alongside so many incredible non-profit partners over the past eight years.” Kelli, herself, started as a customer and ended up employed full-time with the locations here in town. She went on to add that, “We want to have the coolest backyard that no one ever wants to leave! You can come for pickleball, lunch, cornhole, or to watch a game on TV.”
Locally, some of the beneficiaries of the donated time were: HappyBottoms, Newhouse, Parkville Animal Shelter, The Sewing Labs, Veterans Community Project, The Children’s Place, Growing Futures Early Education Center, Operation Breakthrough, The Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, Wayside Waifs, Great Plains SPCA, and The Golden Scoop, among others. Since the Chicken N Pickle employees tend to be on the younger side, many haven’t had the opportunity to volunteer in this manner. According to Kelli, many have the reaction of, “I’ve never volunteered before, and I can’t wait to go back!”
Since its inception in 2017, the company has contributed more than $5 million to non profits. In 2024 alone, they partnered with nearly 9,000 organizations, and hosted more than 8,800 fundraisers. In addition, they have provided not just job training, but training in the critical skills of helping others. Time for us to go and reserve a court now!
Featured in the September 20, 2025 issue of The Independent
By: Anne Potter Russ
