Sarah Pruys
The Robert Moore School gym may have been hot and heavily-perfumed, but that didn’t stop the “Mamma Needs to Redecorate” fundraiser from being a great success.
Held Sunday afternoon, the event raised just over $9,000 for the Riverside Foundation for Health Care—$600 more than last year.
All 160 tickets available were sold, and the event was packed full of activities for ladies of all ages to enjoy.
“We seem to get more and more successful every year,” said Nicke Baird, who heads the Foundation’s Special Events Committee.
“It was a sold-out event again.”
Baird noted that money raised goes towards health care in Rainy River District, including the hospitals and long-term care.
She listed some of the events going on: “we have a penny table, silent auction, a garage sale table, and the game table.”
Items from the penny, garage sale, and game tables, as well as the silent auction, were disappearing before lunch even had been served, with women making trips out to their vehicles—arms laden with quilts, picture frames, and vases of artificial flowers.
Baird was eager to thank everyone who donated prizes, food, and time to the event.
“I want to do a few special thank-yous to Donna Lowey [Lowey’s Greenhouse and Market Garden], who does the centerpieces for us every year.
“We have Diane Gibson, from Gibson Design, donating all of the tabletop decorations,” she added. “And the La Verendrye [Hospital] kitchen staff donates the food.
“They did a wonderful job.
“Thank you to everyone who donated because it’s one of our best events,” said Baird.
“Everything’s 100 percent donated, it’s pretty much zero cost,” she enthused. “It’s awesome!”
Baird also lauded the Special Events Committee.
“They’re amazing and the reason it’s so successful is because of their hard work,” she stressed.
“We have lots of fun planning events together as a committee,” said member Janice Cousineau.
“It’s a lot of work but we get it done.
“It’s spectacular, and we have a lot of wonderful volunteers that have come to help out,” she added.
The women attending the lunch also had only positive things to say.
“I think it’s awesome because it’s benefiting the hospital and health care in the community,” said Susan Deschamps.
“It doesn’t matter what event is going on in Fort Frances, you always get a good turnout,” she noted.
“It’s always a lot of fun,” echoed Shelly Manty.
Before the luncheon began, Cousineau stood to acknowledge a special person.
“Hi, everyone. Before we get started with our luncheon today, I want to take a moment to honour and pay tribute to a very special lady, Joan Alison.
“In 1998, Joan was the founding member of the . . . committee for the purpose of brainstorming, planning, and holding non-capital fundraising events,” she explained.
“Through her community connections, persuasive abilities, and personal commitment to the importance of hospitals in our area, she soon recruited a group of women and the Special Events Committee was formed.
“Joan was the driving force behind the many events hosted by the committee, including our gala events, wreath raffles, cookie sales, and luncheons,” Cousineau noted.
“Joan dedicated many hours, personal resources, and creativity to making our efforts successful.
“Today is especially significant to the memory of Joan as she was the mastermind behind our first luncheon, the ‘Old Bags Lunch,’” said Cousineau.
“We continue today to bring these annual lunches to you in the spirit of Joan’s legacy.
“As Joan would say, ‘Not all the treasures we offer you are high-end items. The events, however, are for a great cause,” Cousineau recalled.
“We will all need hospital services at some point in our lives.”
Then together, the entire committee opened the luncheon by quoting Allison: “Rock on and dig deep.’”
The Special Events Committee is not about to slow down now that the luncheon is over.
It already is busy planning a “Cowboys and Lace” fundraising dinner, which is slated for Saturday, Sept. 14 at the Emo Arena.
“It’s going to be a great cowboy theme, it’s going to be awesome, and it’s going to be fun,” Baird promised.
“It will a little more casual than in past years,” she added, noting people can wear their cowboy boots.
