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Food festival reaches donation goal for Waypoints

IMAGE. Non-profit organization Waypoints announced they reached their fundraising goal for the 2019 Alcor Fort McMurray Food Festival. Supplied by Waypoints/Facebook.

The Alcor Fort McMurray Food Festival raised $105,000 for Waypoints.

The funds raised will help Waypoints to reach this year’s fundraising goal of $700,000.

Donations and fundraisers allow the non-profit to provide free programs and services for women and children in the community.

Waypoints Executive Director, Michele Taylor, is thankful for the support.

“To say that we grateful to all of the sponsors, committee members and the community for the tremendous support that has made this Festival such a success would be a gross understatement.”

Community participation

The food festival featured block parties, entertainment, sporting events, a beach party, and lots of food.

Taylor said new events, sponsors, and bookings such as Aaron Pritchett for Boots and Brews helped the food festival reach their goal.

“Overall, we got amazing feedback from the public. We had a little over 5,000 people attend events over a ten-day period.”

There are more opportunities to volunteer and donate to Waypoints throughout the year.

For example, Taylor said they regularly post a shopping list of items for their shelter on their Facebook page.

“We do a monthly donation request for certain items that are needed in our emergency shelter [for] women and children. That helps with our supply costs.”

Taylor listed the items they commonly request which are diapers, robes, slippers, and pyjamas.

Furthermore, community events like the dinner theatre and silent auction would return next year.

Taylor thanked RMWB councillor Krista Balsom, along with committee members, staff, and numerous volunteers for their efforts.

She said they put in hundreds, if not thousands of hours, working to make the Food Festival so successful.

“It’s a fundraiser for us, and it’s a way for us to increase public awareness for Waypoints, but it’s really the job that we do.”

Plans are already underway by the committee to stage another food festival in 2020.