Winter storm can't cool Talent for HOPE

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Published on Thursday, December 8, 2016

Above: From left: Rebecca Lynn Pedersen, Abigail Plett, Declan Smith, Charlene Vandenbosch, Stephanie Morfitt and Madison Moore helped at the door as well as the raffle table

By Kate Jackman-Atkinson

The Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

Last week, students from NACI’s HOPE group treated the community to a showcase of local talent, all while raising money for a good cause.  On Nov. 29, Talent For HOPE featured 15 performances, dessert, as well as information about the activities undertaken by HOPE, the school’s 85 member social justice group.

While the stormy weather kept some at home, the event drew 105 paid guests. Sydney McLaughlin, a second-year HOPE member who made one of the presentations about the group, said that the turn out was much better than they were expecting.

The performances included singing, music, dancing, a comedy skit and a video showcasing the talents of the figure skating club. While many of the performers were members of HOPE, any student could participate. The student performers were in grades 6 through 12 and making their second performance of the day.  Earlier in the day, they performed at the NACI Talent Show, an in-school show organized by Amy Spring’s Grade 9 Social Studies class to raise money for the Children’s Hospital.

Selena Santos, who has been a member of HOPE for two years and also performed at the show, said, “I was happy to be a part of it.”

Included in their ticket price, all attendees were treated to a dessert, made by the HOPE group members.

Talent for HOPE helped to raise money for the groups projects, both local and international. This year, they are focusing their international efforts on Haiti. “It was a good way to raise money and recognize talent, we have a lot of talented people [in the school],” said McLaughlin. Michelle Young, one of HOPE’s teacher advisors, echoed that, saying, “It was an opportunity to truly showcase talent.”

Sherri Hollier, a HOPE teacher advisor, said that the evening performance offered a chance for parents and grandparents to come out and support the performers. Despite the weather, Hollier said, “I was very happy with the response.”

As well as charging admission, the HOPE group gathered a total of 26 prizes for a rainbow auction. Young said that the students put the prizes together themselves, without soliciting donations from businesses. Hollier said that in addition to raffle tickets, the students were also selling Rafiki bracelets, which are made by mothers in Kenya.  The bracelets were for sale at the school into the first week of December. HOPE teacher advisor Charlene Vandenbosch oversaw the raffle table and praised the students’ work, saying, “Everybody did a really good job.”

In total, the event raised $800. Some of the proceeds will be given to the group’s global cause, which this year, is helping to rebuilt Haiti after it was recently hit by a hurricane.  Part of the money will be used to help local or provincial causes, such as purchasing needed items for Winnipeg Harvest. 

Overall, Bhea Cubacub, who is in her third year in HOPE and MCed the event, said, “It was good experience.”