The excitement around a snow day may have many people happy to be home today, but for the Community Resource Centre, it meant cancelling the 16th annual Chilifest, the most important fundraiser in the group’s calendar year.
“In 16 years of our Chilifest event, this is the first time it has had to be cancelled,” said Community Resource Centre’s executive director Ron MacKinnon.
It is a significant blow to the group’s fundraising efforts.
“We were anticipating to be receiving about $10,000 … between the chili and all the prizes the community has so generously donated,” said MacKinnon.
“We will have to dip into our reserves,” MacKinnon said, noting that the organization has a fund set up for situations where fundraising goals are not met. Given March is the group’s year end, there is no alternative to recoup the funds quickly.
MacKinnon adds, “There will be no discontinuation of the resources we provide. There will be no disruption of service.”
The fundraiser, to have been held at the Fergus Legion, serves hundreds of community members on site and also offered a delivery option to homes and businesses in the community.
For $10, diners could enjoy a bowl of chili, coleslaw, a roll, beverage and a desert option.
For those dining at the Legion, the event included raffle tickets, a Twoonie Table and a silent auction was planned for donations from local businesses, including tickets for a Rick Mercer Show to be drawn and an iPad draw.
“We will work out something with these prizes,” MacKinnon confirmed, who said plans are already underway to utilize the generous donations.
Staff began making the cancellation calls to those groups ordering delivery early on Feb. 8, when the weather reporters confirmed schools and events in Wellington County were closed.
“Today we’re just trying to cancel the volunteers to stop them from getting out on the road today,” said MacKinnon.
Turning a difficult situation into a positive, the staff decided to donate the chili to local groups that support those in need.
MacKinnon explained that two large batches of chili were prepared for the event.
“Our chili is prepared with no preservatives. We couldn’t hold off the event and distribute the chili tomorrow. We want to be sure it is safe and fresh for people to consume,” MacKinnon said.
He confirmed that one batch will be delivered to the Centre Wellington Food Bank, who has the facilities to freeze and distribute the chili to clients.
MacKinnon added, “The rest of the chili will go to other charity groups in the area, who can do the same and get it to people quickly.”
Despite being disappointed for the efforts of staff, volunteers and community supporters, MacKinnon feels confident that this decision was the right one and takes it with a grain of salt.
“At the end of the day, nobody has to drive and nobody gets hurt,” he said of the dangerous driving conditions,” he said. “That’s the life of a not-for-profit. If we have to make-up the event somehow we definitely will.”
