It’s a start, but there’s still a long way to go.
That pretty well summed up the opinion of Clover Valley Farmers’ Market manager Deb Cornell after the Fort Frances High School band’s consignment auction there Saturday.
A vast number of items—ranging from antique jars to a one-night fishing trip from Camp Narrows Lodge—went under the hammer of auctioneer Karl VanHeyst of Emo to raise money to send the band on a trip to England and France next March.
Unfortunately, Friday’s sunny skies gave way to rain for much of Saturday, which put a damper on things in general at the farmers’ market.
“I think the rain got things off to a slow start, but probably 95 percent of it [the merchandise] went,” said Cornell.
Cornell, whose two daughters are in the band, is one of the alternate parent chaperones for the trip and is as concerned as anyone that sufficient money be raised to finance it.
Otherwise, the students (and their parents) will have to dig pretty deep to make up the difference.
“The auction brought in $2,236 to the band, which brings the total up to about $50,000,” she noted.
But that still leaves the band nearly $115,000 short of its objective.
To that end, other fundraisers are in the works which, if successful, will bring in the needed money by the deadline of the end of the year.
In July, band members will begin selling raffle tickets for a pick-up truck while other ventures are being considered, as well, Cornell noted.
For more information on the band’s fundraiser efforts, or to make a donation, contact Fort High musical director John Dutton at 274-7747.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
