Fundraising
efforts for the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce Feed the Need
initiative looks different this year, but the goal of eliminating hunger in the
region remains unchanged. Rather than the Octoberfest festival of recent years,
the committee will concentrate on raising money through a series of smaller
events, said SLRCC Executive Director Aimee Senatore.
“It
comes down to what the mission is. Feed the Need is an initiative to eliminate
hunger in the Sebago Lakes Region. Our efforts were getting pushed towards
putting this big festival on and we weren’t dedicating our time to raising as
much money as we wanted to raise,” she said.
What
people don’t necessarily know, she added, is that Octoberfest was originally
started as a way to thank the businesses involved in the Community Coin
Challenge, rather than a major fundraising effort. But over the years, a lot of
energy was focused on the festival rather than how to raise money. Last year,
due to a variety of issues at the previous location, including security,
electricity and space, Octoberfest was moved to Camp Hinds in Raymond.
“It
was very successful, but it also demanded an awful lot of work and people to
make it happen,” Senatore said.
As
challenges arose for some of the key planners, the committee met and determined
that the festival had moved away from the original purpose. With a small
volunteer base, they decided to eliminate a lot of the work while focusing on
fundraising with smaller events over the next few months.
These
events include a yard sale on July 30th, an eBay auction and a raffle for helicopter
rides, a walk put on by the Rotary Club called Feet for Food, and a benefit
night at Franco’s Bistro on Tuesday, August 23rd. Lee’s Family Trailer will
hold its annual Dumping for Diapers event which collects personal care products
like diapers, shampoo, toilet paper and paper towels that are essential items
that the food pantries are in dire need of, said Senatore.
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In
addition, a new regional spotlight event called The Amazing Chase will be held
on September 24, 2016. Four person teams will compete for prizes in a series of
challenging team building activities, including physical challenges, road
blocks and pit stops that take them all over the region. More information can
be found at www.amazingchasesebago.com.
Once
a participant has registered for the Amazing Chase, Senatore said, they will
receive an email encouraging them to raise at least $50 per person for Feed the
Need through a crowd funding platform.
Included
in the Amazing Chase is a large after party for participants, with food,
beverages and live music. Lee’s Family Trailer and Windham Weaponry will both
participate in this party as the Feed the Need representation, Senatore said.
The barbeque will be hosted by Lee’s Family Trailer, and Windham Weaponry will
have a dessert tent at the event. During this party, a check ceremony will be
held to award the money raised through that date.
Feed
the Need is the primary philanthropic activity of the chamber, Senatore said.
While the initiative is active year round, the major fundraising push happens
from July through October. At the beginning of November, checks are awarded to
the food pantries as they move into their greatest time of need.
In
the first four years of the initiative, over $80,000 has been raised, directly
benefiting the food pantries. In April 2016, the chamber created a 501©3
non-profit, the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber Charitable Trust to enhance the
initiative.
The
13 pantries in the ten communities served by the SLRCC have come to rely on the
money raised through Feed the Need, said Senatore. “We decided to really focus
our efforts on making sure that we reach our fundraising goals, and do it in a
way that is more streamlined and efficient from a volunteer and time
perspective, and hope that the community can understand that,” she said.