HOPE coffee house raises money for charitable projects

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Published on Thursday, May 15, 2014

By: Kate Jackman-Atkinson

myWestman.ca

On May 6, close to 220 people attended a very successful coffee house talent night at the Yellowhead Centre Hall in Neepawa.

The event was a fundraiser for the Neepawa Area Collegiate Institute’s HOPE (Helping Our world Pursue Equality) committee and the funds raised will help the students support charitable projects both in Manitoba and abroad.

The NACI HOPE committee includes 75 high school students in grades 6-12. The coffee house was organized by students Allie Birnie and Emma Schmall and featured seven acts. In addition to the performances, there was also a rainbow auction that featured many items made by HOPE members.

One-of-a-kind items up for grabs included homemade items such as scarves and cards as well as items purchased by HOPE members while participating in humanitarian projects. There were also a few prizes donated by businesses at which the students worked.

HOPE members also made the desserts enjoyed by the audience during the evening.

Birnie says the coffee house marked a change from the breakfast the group had hosted the past few years. Schmall added that there were more people at the event that were expected.

Based of the success of this year’s event, both Birnie and Schmall said that the event will likely be held again next year.

The coffee house raised approximately $2,000 – this included a $1,000 donation coming from the Neepawa Rotary Club.

The money raised will help the group meet their commitment to raise $10,000 over two years for the construction of a school classroom in Kenya. They are aiming to raise $5,000 this year for the project and $5,000 next year.

Any additional money raised by the group will be used for local projects, such as the group’s donation to Siloam Mission. They are hoping to have raised enough money that they can also make a donation towards a local project, such as the purchase of a community information sign at the school division office.

The group’s last major project will be a clean up project for the Rotary Club in exchange for another $1,000 donation.  In the past, they have cleaned up Rotary Park, although another location may be chosen this year.

In photo: Allana Crabbe and Claire Brister with desserts that were served to the guests.

Photo by Michelle Young