Handy-van fundraiser a success

The Meals on Wheels handy-transit fundraising committee was surprised by the success of its dinner, entertainment, and auctions Saturday evening at the Emo Legion.
After being postponed back in June due to a lack of tickets purchased, and then slow ticket sales earlier this month, the committee ended up selling out, with more than 200 tickets purchased.
“Tickets didn’t start selling until about three days before the due date,” noted co-ordinator Patty Labbe. “And then we had to turn people away at the door that night because there was no room.”
Committee chairman Kim Lauzon said they marketed the event better this time around.
“I think because we had it on the radio and in the newspaper,” she remarked. “We tried not to put that expense out last time. We were trying not to use up any of the funds we were getting.
“This time, we decided if we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it right.
“And the communities supported us,” she added. “Their support was wonderful. They all pulled through in the end and we were very happy with how it went.
“We went through the night with no problems at all,” Lauzon enthused.
Not only was the event successful because of the attendance, but the committee also raised nearly $6,000 from the live auction, silent auction, and penny table.
“Some items got up pretty high,” Labbe remarked. “It’s funny how you’re listening to it and you go tally it up at the end—you don’t realize how much it is until after it’s all done and over with.
“Even the silent auction, the small piece of stained glass went for $110. . . .
“People knew it was for a good cause, so it didn’t bother them to pay a high price on stuff.”
But both also thought a few items could have gone for more.
“A lot of hard work went into some of them,” Labbe noted, but added she was thrilled by all the donated items.
“Nobody had a problem donating stuff,” she stressed. “Everyone was happy for us and we had lots of items.”
There were 36 items in the live auction, which included quilts, artwork, sweaters, handmade mitts, and woodwork to name a few. There also were some unusual items—like a pair of dentist chairs and the old handy-van.
“The old handy-van went for $300,” Lauzon said. “It was good to see it go, but he got a deal on it. It had good tires and a new paint job.
“It was running pretty well, but I don’t know how long it will last.”
On top of the funds raised in the auctions, the committee also received about $8,000 in donations from local businesses.
“They got their names put on the outside of the van,” Labbe noted. “It’s really nice.”
In addition to a wonderful dinner prepared by the Legion ladies, four local entertainers offered several performances.
Kenneth Kellar portrayed Johnny Cash, singing “Ring of Fire” and a duet with June Carter (Kayla Lauzon)—“Jackson.”
Brittany Hayes gave her rendition of Reba McEntire’s “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia,” then she and Kayla Lauzon also sang “Does He Love You” by McEntire and Linda Davis.
Sandra Allen portrayed Patsy Cline with “Crazy” and “Sweet Dreams” while Kayla Lauzon, or rather Dolly Parton, sang “PMS Blues.”
“I heard a lot of comments on how good they sing,” Labbe said. “And I’ve got a lot of feedback already and people are telling me how much they enjoyed it and that it was really nice to be there.”
Still, both admitted they are glad the fundraiser is finally over.
“It was a lot of work, but it was worth it,” Labbe said.
“It was a lot of work, especially when we did everything twice,” echoed Kim Lauzon. “When we postponed it the first time, everything was pretty much done and then we had to do it all over again.”
And she doesn’t think she’ll chair next year’s event.
“When Kayla [her daughter] won fair queen, she wanted to do something for the community,” Lauzon explained. “I knew we were going to do a fundraiser, so I got the ball rolling. That’s how this one got started.
“Now someone else will have to get the next one going.
“I’ll probably help out, but I don’t want to be the chair again,” she added.
Lauzon said something a little easier would be a good fundraiser for next year since the municipalities on board with the handy-van (Emo, La Vallee, Chapple, and Morley) are supposed to do one each year, either all together or separately.
The funds raised Saturday will be used to cover the cost of repairs on the handy-van, in case of emergencies, and to help cover the cost for seniors to use the service.
“You can’t charge them too much because they’re on a budget,” Labbe noted. “This helps cover the wages for the driver when she does pick them up.”
And Labbe added she hopes more seniors will take advantage of the handy-van for medical appointments or social gatherings.
“Hopefully they now know that it’s actually up and running,” she said, noting they offered rides for seniors to Saturday night’s event but only had two individuals take up the offer.
Labbe also said she’d like to start putting some funds away for another new van.
“So when it does get worn out, we have something and won’t have to start from scratch,” she remarked. “You don’t want to think about it right now because we just got this one, but it will wear out just like anything else.
“So if we start doing that, it’ll be a lot easier next time around. It never hurts to start saving,” she stressed.