Local library supported through hotdog fundraiser

By John Watson Local Journalism initiative Reporter

Shortly after the Strathmore Stampede parade on July 31, MLA Leela Aheer and MP Martin Shields hosted a hotdog fundraiser in benefit of Strathmore Library.

The fundraiser has become a regular annual event in town, according to Aheer, and after setbacks caused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was finally able to be hosted once again. 

Aheer said Shields and herself have hosted the event on several occasions and enjoy the opportunity to give back to the library.

“It’s a nice little thing to do, it’s not expensive, it’s easy for us – Martin and I to be able to pull this together and bring a whole bunch of people together,” she said. “Folks love coming out and having a hot dog and just knowing that their dollars are going back to the library.”

This year would have marked the sixth hotdog fundraiser for the library, but due to the onset of the pandemic, the event has been cancelled for the last two years in sequence.

Aheer added a highlight of running the event was simply to have people come out, spend time and chat with constituents. 

“People want to be heard, they want to have an opportunity to talk to you about the good, the bad, the things that are going on,” said Aheer.

Director of Library Services, Rachel Dick Hughs, said the library is always grateful for any amount of support that it can get and that the proceeds will go a long way towards funding programs and activities.

“It’s a real gift to the library because they pretty much handle all the logistics, and all we do is sell the tickets, and then all the proceeds go to the library,” she said. “For us it makes a big difference, especially this year, we’ve lost a lot of income in terms of rental income that we rely on, printing and copying income … all of those things have really been down over the last two years.”

Dick Hughs added even so much as raising $250 for the library through the fundraiser would be enough to fund between five and 10 programs. 

Throughout the event, a donation of two dollars got participants a hotdog, a bag of chips and a bottle of water. Many who attended had decided to donate more than the minimum to support the cause.

“[The library] works with all different aspects of the community, and so a lot of the dollars that they use help out with community events, help out with domestic violence, help out with social situations, [etc],” said Aheer.

Dick Hughs also confirmed the Strathmore Library is receiving funding from United Way, as well as from Alberta Culture Days – the latter of which will support programs in September being done in collaboration with the Town of Strathmore. 

Multiculturalism, Indigenous and Inclusion Grant, Dick Hughs specified, was for $25,000 and is the single largest grant the organization has ever received. They also received a $4,000 for Alberta Cultural Days.  

“The goal for that grant is to build understanding and to build bridges between our indigenous and settler populations here in Strathmore and the County,” she said.

The library plans to create videos with local elders doing teachings and telling stories to give everyone a chance to share in and experience the richness of Siksika culture.