Community rallying around the Nevilles
In the wake of the early morning fire two weeks ago at the production greenhouses for Les Serres Neville, the local community is reaching out to try to help. As of Sunday morning, a fundraising campaign on the online crowdfunding website Gofundme.com had raised just under $6,500.
Mary-ellen Kirby, who organized the fundraising campaign on Gofundme.com said that raising money in the wake of a fire is just something Townshippers do, particularly those in the farming community.
“We do tend to look after each other around here,” Kirby said, pointing out the recent example of the fundraising dance for the Johnston family after their fire in February. “That’s a very difficult thing to go through,” she continued. “Our hearts really go out to someone who is dealing with such a horrific event. This sort of thing takes a terrible toll on people.”
Although the Nevilles are not livestock producers, Kirby said that local farmers certainly see them as a part of the community and so very soon after the fire she started to think about organizing an event like the one that was held for the Johnstons.
“That is getting harder to do,” the campaign organizer said, explaining that challenges with finding bands and venues that could accommodate everyone led her to consider the online option.
“Not everyone is comfortable with the online stuff,” Kirby said, explaining that a few different opportunities to interact with Gofundme.com in the last year convinced her that it was a worthwhile and trustworthy platform.
On Friday evening, April 27 the Municipality of Potton in collaboration with the Missisquoi North Volunteer Centre (CABMN) held an appreciation evening for volunteers as part of the Canada wide volunteer week held this year from April 15 to 21. Since it was impossible to hold the event during the designated week, the special celebration took place this past Friday in recognition of the contribution made by volunteers in the community.
Some 110 people of all ages joined together upstairs in the Town Hall in Mansonville where refreshments were served, music performed and a power point presentation of last year’s celebration shared. Speeches applauding the efforts of those who give of their time and talents were made by Potton Mayor, Jacques Marcoux as well as CABMN President, Charles Laurin and Vice President, Brenda Clark.
“Just for a moment,” said Mayor Marcoux, “I’d like you all to imagine our community without volunteers.”
Someone in the crowd spoke up saying, “It would be pretty boring.”
Marcoux went on to explain that a community is a much richer and dynamic place with the efforts made by those who give of their time. He stated that many community organizations would not be able to exist with the same productivity and success if it were not for volunteers.
“I made a very modest $1,000 campaign goal,” she said, “but we were well over $1,000 before we were ever 24 hours old.”
Kirby said that the response to the campaign was very surprising to her.
“I was flabbergasted,” the organizer said. “Gratified and pleased, but really amazed at how fast it added up.”
To account for the people who are less comfortable with giving money online, Kirby said that she also decorated four mason jars and arranged to have them on the counter at four merchants in Lennoxville; Clarke and Son’s, the Lennoxville florist, Black Cat Books, and Tri-knit-tea. She said that she plans to keep the site up for about another week because the money can’t be passed along until the campaign ends, and she knows that the needs of the Nevilles are pressing.
“They need to be able to start accessing some of the funds to do the replacement of all their equipment,” Kirby said, noting that replacing all the lost equipment at once will be costly.
On a personal level, Kirby noted that the fact that Les Serres Neville is a reliable source of organic, locally grown plants makes them a distinctive and precious option in a world of big-box garden centres.
“I want them to be able to stay in business,” the campaign founder said. “I like being able to go to their garden centre and buy my plants knowing that they’ve raised them without all the pesticides and chemicals and stuff that are considered normal at other places.”
The campaign organizer said that she has not spoke much with the family, recognizing the fact that they are very busy both recovering from the fire and attempting to get their season ready. A post by Chuck Neville on the Gofundme page expresses deep appreciation for the contributions people have been able to make
“You have all been so, so generous,” the post reads, “We are surviving and mainly due to your encouragement we are working hard to keep going.”
The fundraising campaign can be found on the gofundme.com website under the heading “support for Neville fire.”