By Kathy Chaffin
kchaffin@salisburypost.com
Predator Paintball on East Ridge Road is collecting food for the Rowan County Department of Social Services Food Bank and Rowan Helping Ministries.
Owner Mike Holshouser, who also owns Holshouser Cycle Shop, has already delivered 186 pounds of donated food to the two agencies. “The paintball players have really stepped up to the plate,” he said. “They’re a special group. We average anywhere from 25 to 45 players on a weekend.”
Customers of Holshouser Cycle Shop also contributed. “We’ve had a good response all the way around,” he said, “but we would like to get more.”
People can drop donations by the shop ó located at 1445 E. Ridge Road ó Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and at the paintball field behind the shop from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. “We were going to run it for two weeks,” Holshouser said, “but we had so many people that brought in canned goods that we decided to extend it.”
Predator Paintball customers who bring in at least five cans of food or other nonperishable items will receive a 5 percent discount on the cost of paintballs and air to run the guns. The same discount is available to players who buy paintball or air to play at home or elsewhere.
Holshouser said the food drive is a way of giving back to people in the county who have lost their jobs in recent layoffs. “This has affected a few of the players who were coming regularly,” he said. “We feel like we’re helping that same bunch that come and play.
“All of the players have really taken it to heart. You never know, you could be the next person that is unemployed.”
Holshouser said he and his son, Kevin, fell in love with the sport of paintball about 12 years ago.
“He got a paintball gun and talked me into going out and playing the game with him,” he said. “I got to looking around at all the other kids, and there weren’t that many places for them to go and play.”
Nine years ago, Holshouser opened up his 10-acre field to the public on Saturdays and set up rules for players to follow.
“We felt like it was a good hobby to get into at that time,” he said, “and it has blossomed from a hobby into a small business.”
Holshouser said 1,200 different people from several different counties played at Predator Paintball last year. “I think my oldest adult is 55,” he said, “and the youngest that can be on the field is 10. We get all ages in between.”
Fathers and sons play together, whole families, even husbands and wives.
“Sometimes they’ll have little issues they want to work out on the field,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of sons challenge their fathers to a game, and the sons most of the time will win and they leave with their chests all bowed out and they’re happy.
“That’s what paintball should mean to people. They should leave with a smile and a story.”
For more information on the Predator Paintball food drive, call Holshouser after 1 p.m. weekdays at 704-637-2856.
Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249.