Fort Frances and district residents, businesses, and service clubs once again have shown their overwhelming generosity—donating almost $35,000 towards three causes in less than a week.
A week ago Sunday, the annual “Community Chest” benefit dinner at La Place Rendez-Vous raised just over $14,000 to help local families facing medical expenses. Then on Saturday, the “top up” day at Safeway raised about $2,000 towards the proposed skate park here before another $18,000 was drummed up that evening at the annual Riverside Foundation for Health Care fundraiser dinner at the Red Dog Inn.
In a word, “Wow!”
What cannot get lost in the shine of all that money, however, are the volunteers who work so tirelessly behind the scenes so that all these fundraising events can even be held at all—whether it’s planning activities around a particular theme, canvassing for items to be put up for auction, or selling raffle tickets.
In fact, many of the myriad of tasks that need to be done to stage a successful fundraiser are not very glamorous yet, as the old saying goes, somebody has to do them. Fortunately, we have such people willing to do just that.
And a good thing, too, because it’s clear the onus has fallen on local residents to help pay for our health care, education system, and recreation on top of what we get dinged each year in taxes—a trend that isn’t going to change anytime soon (if anything, it will grow even more).
Unfortunately, given numbers were down somewhat at recent fundraisers, both in terms of attendance and money raised, it’s equally clear coming up with innovative ways to get people to open their wallets year after year is a daunting challenge, indeed.
But it’s one we cannot afford to shy away from, which is why those who persevere despite the odds and setbacks need all our support—and thanks.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
