Making a plunge for the Wheatland County Foodbank

Times Contributor

 

Ten courageous individuals splashed into the icy cold waters in the second annual Dunk Tank Event. The Canada Day festivities were organized by Jennifer Sawatzky, the Municipal Clerk for the Town of Strathmore, and the event took place at Kinsmen Park, July 1.

“I went about asking a couple people who I thought would be more well known in the community, and would be people that that other individuals would like to see dunked,” said Strathmore Town Councillor, Bob Sobol.

From being a dunk tank participant the previous year, Sobol thought that 10 participants would be a needed.

“About a 25 minute spell is about all that I think anybody should take, it was a little longer last year so I tried to split it in half hour intervals.”

The dunk tank succeeded with $594.90 as the grand total of funds raised. The money will be donated to the Wheatland County Foodbank.

“It was incredible; I don’t think we ever did not have someone in line waiting to shoot. It was an enormous amount of fun, there was so much laughter and surprises. We had grown people who on their first shot, threw clear over the target, and we had one nine year old and of the 20 shots he purchased, I believe he dunked 16 people. He was an incredibly accurate and strong little gentleman. It was a lot of fun, a great time.”

The cake decorating auction proved to be a success as well, pulling in over $1,515 as the grand total of money raised. 

Funds will also be donated to the Wheatland County Foodbank, and a cheque will be presented with a combined total of $2,109.90 in the near future. 

“The cake auction has a long history with Canada Day and it was taking place even prior to myself getting on the council. Basically, well known persons such as representatives from the fire department, ambulance and town council, all took turns at the event. They either have some ingredients present or they bring their own, decorate a cake and the cake is auctioned, whoever gets the highest bid takes the cake home.”

Sobol said the decorating time frame is around three minutes, making the event like a contest to see who can complete the challenge.

Sobol was at the dunk tank for a large portion and didn’t get a chance to witness the cake decorating event. However, in regards to the dunk tank, Sobol described the event as “a little bit busier than we anticipated, and we were happy to see the people responding so well.”