Charity Fashion Show Fundraiser 2022

To raise money in support of its ongoing agricultural projects in Nicaragua, one of the poorest countries in Central America, the Rotary Club of Stratford’s Canadian Outreach Medical and Mission Team (COMMIT) is bringing back its annual Charity Fashion Show Fundraiser after a two-year pandemic pause.

Charity fashion show returning after two-year hiatus to support local Rotarians' mission work in Nicaragua

On Sept. 16 from 6-11 p.m., area residents are invited to enjoy an evening of fashion, food and fun at the West Perth Community Centre in Mitchell. Complete with all-you-can-eat desserts, savoury snacks and beer, wine and spirit tastings, as well as live music by local performer Meredith McMillan, the highlight of the evening will be a fashion show featuring Canadian fall and winter designs, active wear, cozy comfort, bridal fashion and more from six local businesses.

“We have a whole bunch of projects ongoing in Nicaragua and we usually pick a project and put the money from the fashion show toward that,” said COMMIT co-leader and founder Janice Rauser. “So this year’s project is our agriculture project that we started in two villages and a nearby orphanage.

” … Three years ago, we started it in the Village of Nandarola, and there were 10 farmers chosen. We hired an agronomist who we still have under our employ and he taught these people. They were already doing a bit of farming, but it wasn’t successful because the ground is very barren, very depleted (of nutrients) in that area just because of the rains and wind and high temperatures.”

Rauser said the COMMIT agronomist taught the villagers how to make two kinds of compost, one from table scraps, cow dung, leaves and other organics, and the other using worms, molasses and cow dung. After initial success, the COMMIT team expanded the project to another 10 farmers last year and 10 more farmers this year.

“So in addition to having (productive) family farming plots where they’ve been growing passion fruit … which they’ve also been able to sell, and other vegetables and root vegetables and stuff like that, last year they asked us for a micro loan so they could rent some land and they planted crops of beans and corn, which has been very successful,” Rauser said.

Recently, that land the farmers were renting has come up for sale, so the COMMIT members are hoping to raise money to help them purchase it.

The fashion show fundraiser next month comes ahead of COMMIT’s upcoming house-building mission trip to Nicaragua, during which members will help construct a house as well as check in on a number of the ongoing projects in the area, including the agriculture projects, pop-up medical clinics, well drilling, sanitation projects, the production of safe, environmentally friendly and efficient household stoves and other social and educational programs.

At $30 apiece, fashion-show tickets can be purchased by contacting Rauser at 226-880-1712 orjanice.rauser@gmail.com. Rauser said COMMIT is also looking for more builders to join the team on their upcoming mission trip. Anyone interested should reach out to Rauser.

For more information on COMMIT and its ongoing projects in Nicaragua, visitcommitwithnphnicaragua.simplesite.com.

past FUNDRAISERS

COMMIT River Valley Golf Tournament 2022

We had an amazing day on Saturday at River Valley Golf Course in St. Marys at one of our annual fundraisers and raised over $12000 towards COMMIT's projects in Nicaragua. Thanks to everyone who came out to support us.

Some highlights of the day

Closest to the pin female-Michelle Speak
Closest to the pin male- Stan Hiwsperger
Longest Drive Female-Linda Davis
Longest Drive Male- Guy Stroop
Top team- Tiger's Woodsmen
Closest to the pin Ball Toss- Tom Shean
Secret Spot Ball Toss- Naomi Kuepfer

Thanks to our hole sponosrs and donors for the silent and live auction

HOLE SPONSORS:

Rauser Quality Build, Dave Meinen Contruction, Dr. David Thompson, Dr. Doug Thompson, Valerie Thompson, Dr. Tibor Kalos, Dr. Gregg Hancock, Michael Fair Law, Stratford Crane, BKS Electric, Peter Zettel, The Dressing Room., Fran Purcel, Charles Hamilton and Jim Henry

COFFEE AND TEA FUNDRAISER

With the generous support of Patrick's Beans, who supplied eco-friendly packaging and fair trade coffee, the team was able to raise significant funds for a number of stoves.

Many thanks to our supporters who bought coffee and tea from us during the 2021-2022 fundraising efforts for the stove building project.

For now this is archived as one of our past fundraisers

Run For Nicaragua

Sep. 26, 2015

5 km run/walk, 10 km run in Mitchell

Saturday morning 37 participants came out to run/walk the course. Over $2,000 dollars was raised from this event. Thanks to everyone who donated or participated in the first annual Run for Nicaragua.