Fair / -2° F
Caspers: Friends helping friends
Published 6:00am Sunday, February 21, 2010A simple philosophy — friends talking to friends — made a difference for seven county food shelves recently when more than $60,000 was raised to fight hunger in Otter Tail County.
“We all knew people; we had good connections,” said Connie Caspers, one of the organizers of the fundraiser. “The county was very gracious and approachable.”
The Caspers were one of 10 couples — all with homes or cabins on Otter Tail Lake — who got together and planned a gala event, Friends of Friends Fighting Hunger in Otter Tail County, which included a dinner, dance and auction to benefit the food shelves.
The planning committee consisted of Rob and Kathy Bope, Val and Paula Dietz, Neil and Arne Gudmestad, Leif and Kristen Hemstad, Larry and Sue Krohn, Kim Peterson, Ed and Georgia Pullen, Dave and Sue Sethre and Bernie and Patty Steeves.
The idea for the fundraiser was the brain-child of Leif and Kristen Hemstad of Fargo, and the couples agreed the money should benefit food shelves after learning these agencies don’t receive United Way funding, and with usage up 50 percent in some areas, it seemed a good fit. Also, following the holidays, many of the food pantries find their shelves a bit bare, so the timing was perfect, Connie said.
Although many people may equate hunger as being primarily a problem in third-world countries, more than 6,700 families went to food shelfs in Otter Tail County, with new users comprised of the working poor, an indication of the effect the economy is having on families, Connie said.
But what drove the couples was thinking of the children who weren’t getting fed because they, of course, are included in the statistics. Through a partnership with the United Way, which served as the group’s fiscal host, the food shelfs will get the needed boost at a time when supplies are depleted.
“All 10 couples took a lead in some aspect of planning (the local fundraiser),” Connie said. “It was like the group was hand-chosen with specific talents to handle this project and provide a voice to those who can’t be heard.”
Woody’s talent, is seems, was to pounded the county roads nearly every day, talking to business owners and others about the problem in Otter Tail County and to request a donation.
“Each day I just took a different route out of town,” he said. “It worked out well. It’s a great community, they give, and they give a lot. Very few people turned me down ”
In addition to raising money, the couples agreed the event also needed to raise awareness of the hunger issue within the county and to “build a community for the community,” meaning if people talked to their friends about the problem, together they could make a difference, the core belief behind the fundraiser.
Initially, the group set a goal of $30,000, hoping to raise $50,000 for the food shelfs. They were elated to do better by raising more than $60,000, despite a change in venue and a winter storm which required the event be postponed a week. They are convinced the hand of God was involved in the event’s success.
But perhaps more important than a one-time donation and attendance at an event, the planning committee hoped people would really grasp the essence of the fundraiser and the importance of giving year after year.
When someone from Fergus Falls requested more information and said he was going to talk to his friends, they knew they were getting the message across, Woody said.
“It’s all about friends,” he said. “When friends take responsibility to talk to their friends, they can make a difference.”
Next year’s event is already scheduled for Jan. 29, 2011.
