Trees For Dominica fundraiser a solid effort
The IT (Information Technologies) For Dominica Foundation and Palliser School Division have joined forces to raise funds for Dominica, an island that suffered devastation from last fall’s Hurricane Maria.
“In the summer of 2017 I volunteered as a teacher of teachers in Dominica,” said Darlene Hubber, Treasurer of the IT for Dominica Foundation. “I was there about six weeks before the hurricane hit, so I have a close tie to the teachers there. No teachers went this past summer because the country is still recovering, but there is an effort being made to fund infrastructure, technology and resources for Dominica's 75 schools.”
Fundraising is being done by auctioning off trees donated by Michaels that are decorated by students at Coaldale Elementary School and then offered for sale through a silent auction.
“We had previously pledged money to support Dominica when a representative came to our school in January, but that money had to be spent on our playground,” Hubber said.
Hubber says that the project has been in the works for about 4 weeks, during which time each teacher in the school had their classes decorate the trees bidding opened on December 6th, the night of the Preschool Christmas Concert.
The financial goal of $500, Hubber says, has been surpassed through steady donations and the total is over $1,100 dollars. Bids have come from family and staff in the school as well as members of the community and alumni.
All proceeds from the silent auction will go to Dominica. IT for Dominica (as linked in our website https://sites.google.com/pallisersd.ab. ca/trees-for-dominica/home) has a partnership with A Better World Canada.
Hubber says that by sending a cheque payable to A Better World, with IT for Dominica Foundation also named on the cheque, the IT for Dominica Foundation receives the full amount on the cheque and the donor receives a charitable tax receipt.
“Our school will collect the donations for the trees and send them in,” Hubber said.
All cheques (either to A Better World Canada or to the IT for Dominica Foundation) can be mailed to our Treasurer, Darlene Hubber at IT for Dominica Foundation, c/o 100 - 2nd Avenue South, Unit 409, Lethbridge, AB, Canada T1J 0B5.
“Anyone who has seen the trees thinks this is a marvelous fundraiser,” Hubber said. “Several trees are in a heated bidding war, which, of course, is great for the cause.”