The collective hearts from Innisfail's Filipino community shone brightly for the town to embrace with awe.
And citizens from every corner of town responded with generosity.
The Phil-Can Neighbourhood Association of Innisfail hosted its fundraising western spring party at the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion on April 9, and two beloved non-profit agencies – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Innisfail (BBBS) and the Innisfail Seniors Drop-In Centre – will be better able to provide essential programming for youth and the elderly.
“I think the Phil-Can group has been very gracious to this community, and they are very welcoming and a fabulous group to be associated with,” said Eileen Reid, program coordinator for the seniors drop-in centre. “They are just contagious with their love and enthusiasm.”
However, with the downturn in the economy, organizers were initially worried the $25 price for an individual ticket would impede a strong turnout this year.
Grace Gresos, chair of the association, said only 70 tickets had been sold less than a week before the April 9 event, which featured a spectacular dinner, dancing, entertainment and games for both adults and children. “It is a tough time,” said Gresos.
But an advance story on the event in the Province just four days before the fundraiser created a sudden and welcome wave of interest.
“There were lots of supporters who came out and walk-in guests to join us in the event,” she said. “Everything was put in order.”
The final count for tickets sold was 195. About $4,000 was raised, and after expenses, about $1,500 will go to each group.
Paula Derbyshire, the local mentoring caseworker for BBBS, said the $1,500 her agency received will go towards funding the Go Girls program at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School.
The program runs for seven weeks after school for two hours on Tuesdays to serve 15 students from the ages of 12 to 14. The program mentors the girls on healthy living, active lifestyles and smart choices. The program, which began in March, wraps up at the end of this month.
“We have guest speakers who come in to talk to the girls about mental health, nutrition and different things that girls need to know at that age,” she said, adding the program has been in the community in the past but is being revived this year. “We hope to use this as a model to expand into other schools -- the middle school, as well as in the surrounding rural areas, including Bowden and Spruce View.”
Reid said her agency's share of the proceeds will help purchase supplies for the centre's new craft program and its once-a-week soup and biscuit program, with money for the latter helping with the cost of groceries.
“Anybody who wants a beef barely soup, the cost will be a little bit more than vegetable soup,” said Reid. “We need to subsidize those sorts of things, but we've had a really good response with both of them, so this will really help to get them out there and have people involved and be able to have enough stuff for them to be involved.”
As for the Phil-Can association, members remain grateful to be part of the community, and are pleased all their hard work in organizing the event will benefit many citizens.
“When we are doing this all of us make sacrifices. We prepare for three months. I am lucky. I have everything,” said Gresos. We have people who do the decorations and the posters. I am the one doing the cooking, but I have a committee who helps. It's nice because all of us have the same heart.”
Grace Gresos
"We have people who do the decorations and the posters. I am the one doing the cooking, but I have a committee who helps. It's nice because all of us have the same heart."
