Efforts to help victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan are beginning to gear up, with two fundraisers being held next week.
The first, A Night for Japan, organized by the Banff Rotary Club and Japanese Society in Banff, will feature finger food along with a silent and live auction at Wild Bill’s, Tuesday (March 29) at 7 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door for $20.
Rotary member Peter McCaffery said Monday (March 21) money raised will go to the Rotary Japan 2011 Disaster Recovery Fund, which will be used to fund efforts in the stricken areas. Funds will be used to help hospitals and schools, for example, get reestablished.
The Rotary Foundation, McCaffery said, will match whatever the Banff club – along with the rest of the clubs in North America for that matter – raise.
“The Rotary Foundation will match what we send, so if we generate $20,000, bingo, $40,000 will go into the account,” said McCaffery.
“The thing about it is there is no top limit, the foundation is open-ended. So if every club in North America raises $20,000, they will match it. They have the resources to do that as well.”
Banff Rotary also recently purchased five ShelterBoxes (www.shelterboxes.ca), which for $1,000 apiece provides a family with a large tent, blankets and ground sheets, tools, either a compact wood-burning or a multi-fuel stove, art supplies for children and pots, pans and utensils.
Meanwhile, Canmore churches are planning a spaghetti dinner, which will also include a bake sale and silent auction, at St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Thursday (March 31) from 5:30-8 p.m.
Tickets for the dinner are $10 for adults, $5 for children three to 12, or $30 for a family.
Organizer Sharon Sime said Monday (March 21) she is not only looking for Bow Valley residents to attend the event, she also needs volunteers for the evening and silent auction items.
“I really feel that Canmore has a strong connection with Japan and vice versa,” she said, adding her family has hosted Japanese students.
“I feel devastated by what is happening in their country. I feel drawn to help and I feel many people are drawn to help as well.”
Canmore’s sister city, Higashikawa, is located near the centre of the northern island of Hokkaido and was not affected by the earthquake or tsunami.
The areas worst hit by the tsunami are located on the east coast of Honshu; north of Tokyo where current estimates indicate over 18,000 people are dead or missing.
