Raising funds in a new way

Times Reporter

 

A new kind of trade show will be at the Quonset on the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society grounds on June 4. The trade show will be featuring home-based businesses, while raising money for a worthy cause: Relay for Life. 

“Last year I guess was not a very good year for Relay for Life, so they’re trying to bring it back to the community,” said Kristel Lang, who is organizing the event.

“I thought this would be another good way, a fundraiser for them, but also a good way to showcase different businesses that we have here in town.”

Lang has also brought in the help of Melissa David, of Quality Dog Grooming, who recently finished working on Strathmore’s first Pet Expo.

“Basically, she just asked because we had done the Pet Expo and we’ve made some great contacts with home based businesses,” said David.

“We’ve had such great local support, that I was able to pass along some of my contacts and even call some of them up. Everyone was just awesome and like, ‘yeah lets do this’. Quality Dog Grooming ourselves, we love helping do stuff like this and so we’re like tell us what we can do and how we can do it.”

There is one little hitch to the date, but both women are sure it can be a benefit and not a downside.

“We do realize that it’s the same day as Spring Fest but we’re hoping that’s a positive. We’re hoping that people will just kind of do everything at once,” said David

There were only 21 teams registered with the Relay for Life and Lang said the goal this year is to have 25 teams and raise $100,000. 

“My personal goal is $2,500 for the day,” said Lang.

“I think everyone, when they find out the cause it’s for, is completely happy about being involved.”

This is a cause that is very near and dear to her. She has had a number of family members who have suffered from cancer, and she herself had a cancer scare when she was 15-years-old. 

Lang was at the farmers market in early April and saw a lot of home-based businesses there. She thought it would be a neat idea to hold a whole trade show for home-based businesses. All of the proceeds from the tables will be going to Relay for Life, which Lang is also a board member of. She said two businesses have donated 15 per cent of their sales for the day to Relay for Life. She has also had a number of people say they will be donating items for the silent auction/raffle. The women also have full use of the concession, so Lang plans to buy prepackaged goodies that people can enjoy while they shop. 

“We’re just hoping that people donate something from their business,” said Lang. 

David said it’ll be a little bit different from a normal trade show because some of the people from the Pet Expo will be there too. Lang said there are more home-based businesses than she ever knew about in the area and thinks it’s great to be able to promote those businesses. 

The idea is to showcase Strathmore and the possibilities here. Lang is against having to travel to the city to be able to get certain items, and wants people to know they don’t always have to drive to Calgary. Lang said you can buy almost anything from home-based businesses and was surprised at how many things are available. 

There are 12 tables left, and the cost of a table for the show is $35. It will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Quonset.  The women are still looking for more silent auction items, and anyone is more than welcome to donate. 

To find out more information contact Melissa David at 403-923-8983 or on her website www.qualitydoggrooming.com. People can also contact Kristel Lang at 403-901-8450 or via email at ke_kristel@hotmail.com.