FOTOCAN roast beef dinner, silent auction at Elora Legion Oct. 29

ELORA – A roast beef dinner and silent auction at the Elora Legion on Oct. 29 will help Canadians travel to the Dominican Republic and Guatemala to support orphans.  

Ken Speers of James Street United Church in Palmerston is leading the humanitarian trips. 

FOTOCAN (Friends of the Orphans Canada) is a registered non-profit organization based in Guelph and dedicated to supporting orphaned and disadvantaged children in Latin America and the Caribbean.  

It’s the Canadian fundraising and volunteer arm of Nuestros Pequenos Hermanau (NPH).  

Since 2003, Speers has led between two and six teams annually that work alongside local staff to support orphans.

Next year’s projects begin Jan. 27 in the Dominican Republic and Feb. 10 in Guatemala. 

Volunteers will stay at NPH homes  for 14 days to work side by side with staff and students.

The suggested donation to participate is $2,000 per person, which covers in-country transport, food and accommodation. Participants purchase their own flights.  

The projects this year include a perimeter wall, paving stones for a new walkway, two new playgrounds and electrical upgrades, among other improvements and activities with the children.

The team travelling to the Dominican Republic will rebuild aging playground equipment and install solar lighting.  

The team travelling to Guatemala will build an entrance to a school ground and upgrade the electrical system.

The projects are expected to cost $50,000. 

 The roast beef dinner and silent auction will add to the funds raised to complete the 2027 projects in both countries.  

FOTOCAN volunteer and Belwood resident Wendy Smith has assembled a variety of retail items and gift certificates. 

The value of the donations surpasses $21,000, including:

– rappelling urban experience for four adults donated by One Axe Pursuits ($1,000);  

– two-day rest and relax at Lake Huron Winterized cottage donated Gayle Beuerman ($750); 

– ladies’ Tiffany sunglasses, donated by Elora Optometrist ($640);  

– two round trips from  home to the Toronto Airport and back, donated by  Red Car Airport Service Guelph ($600); 

– one-night’s stay at the newly renovated Ayrshire Inn Elora ($510); 

– homemade queen-sized quilt donated by Lois MacPherson ($500); 

– plumbing package donated by Parkinson’s Plumbing ($340); 

– family photo shoot donated by Sharon Grose Photography of Alma; and 

– one night’s stay at Fairfield Hotel (near Hanlon/401) donated by Marriott ($250).  

The meal will be prepared and served by the Elora Legion Ladies Auxiliary. 

Tickets are $35 and must be purchased in advance by calling Carol Allan at 905-703-0354. 

For more information about FOTOCAN contact info@fotocan.org.