Shelter fundraises outside the box

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

The Strathmore Overnight Shelter (SOS) is letting their creative juices flow in organizing an entertaining and mouth-watering chili cook-off fundraiser, with ambitions of raising thousands of dollars towards a required sprinkler system to bring their project to fruition.
Organizers aim to receive participation from 50 local residents and 25 businesses, who would contribute chili to be judged and voted on during the shelter’s first Rootin’ Tootin’ Outhouse in the Park fundraiser. With a goal of raising $5,000 at the event on Canada Day, the shelter is inching closer to meet the remaining $20,000 necessary for the installation of a sprinkler system; imperative to meet Strathmore’s building codes for combining a church – the harvest Healing Centre Church – and an overnight shelter under the same roof.
“We have to have some fundraisers for that sprinkler system… and with the shelter I think people don’t know exactly what it is still,” said Richard Rodgers, director of outreach for SOS.
“People are sick of the same old thing, sick of the run for this, the run for that, silent auctions, and dinners. The Strathmore Overnight Shelter wants to fundraise outside of the box.”
Rodgers has spent the last week canvassing the area and inform the public about the event while encouraging participation. While the feedback has been positive, the organizers continue to look for greater participation. Registering in the event requires cooking at least 4 litres of chili, supplying your own tureen and heating source, and two individuals to help serve up the chili sample sizes on Canada Day.
Residents participating will have their chili voted on by the public in hopes of taking home the trophy – a cowboy sitting on a toilet. The fundraiser will also provide information and clarity on the shelter project, its purpose, and the need for financial help.
“It’s really up to the town how well it turns out,” Rodgers said. “It’s a type of learning curve. We have to try one fundraiser and if it doesn’t work out then we have to think of something that works out better.”
The Rootin’ Tootin’ Outhouse in the Park fundraiser will take place on Canada Day in Kinsmen Park at 11:30 a.m. Contestants are asked to set up at 11 a.m. Registering in the cook-off is free and to vote and sample the chili costs $3. For more information or to participate contact Richard Rodgers at 403-836-8745.