聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The Arcola Optimist Club held their annual banquet and donations night on Wednesday, March 16, at 7 p.m.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The donations made were raised during their annual snowmobile rally. Different clubs in the area are given the opportunity to help the Optimists sell tickets during the day, general donations, and payment for services.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭onight is about thanking all of the organizations that helped sell tickets for us and who made our day [the annual snowmobile rally] successful,鈥� Optimist President Blake Brownridge said. 鈥淭his past year we weren鈥檛 sure what to expect, the times are a little more difficult than they have been in the past five years, but everyone pulled together to make the rally a success.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This year the Optimists donated a total of $20,075 to local community clubs and services. Donations to the Curling Club, Figure Skating Club, Rink Complex, Arcola Day Care, Moose Mountain Wildlife Federation, and 麻豆视频east Vipers Volleyball Club came through their assistance in selling tickets on raffling off the big item at the snowmobile rally (a choice between a snowmobile, quad, or side-by-side). A percentage of ticket sales are then given back to each club that sells tickets for the Optimists.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Both 4-H clubs based in Arcola worked at the Snowmobile Rally, one bussing tables and the other cleaning up afterwards. Each 4-H club received $500 for their efforts. The Figure Skating Club also received $500 for operating the concession during the rally.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A donation of $1,000 was given to the Moose Mountain Snowmobile Club for working with the Optimists and allowing them to use the trails for the rally. Although this year the trails weren鈥檛 used, the Optimists appreciate the support of the Moose Mountain Snowmobile Club each year.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A 50/50 was held throughout the day of the snowmobile rally and a total of $1,220 was raised with half going to the lucky winner that day. The Optimists added to the $610 raised in order to give $1,000 to the local Food Bank, which is currently seeing a high number of people in need.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he Food Bank greatly appreciates the donation. Our numbers have multiplied. At Christmas we made 186 hampers, through January, February, and March our numbers have been double. Today we did 68 hampers, which is up from about 35 last year,鈥� Mavis James, with the Food Bank, explained.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In addition to the donations made to local clubs and services, the Optimists also explained they are currently working on two projects in the community. They have chosen to add a variety of swings to the local play park and the Optimists are looking to provide aid to the Arcola Fire Department as they鈥檝e become busier over the past few years through supporting STARS landings in the area.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 think the town would be very different without the fundraiser we have,鈥� Brownridge said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 would like to thank the Optimists members for another successful year and to all of the clubs for their efforts as well.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Following the cheque presentations, the Optimists also unveiled that their spring concert this year would feature Beverley Mahood. The concert will be held on Thursday, April 21, and tickets will be available beginning April 6. Advanced tickets are $20 and tickets at the door will be $25.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 If interested in becoming an Optimist member join them on Wednesday, April 6, at the Legion Hall in Arcola. Contact an Optimist member for more information.
