One of the positives to take away from the COVID pandemic was that it inspired creative solutions to unexpected challenges. Whether that was restaurants pivoting to delivery services to serve customers of businesses adapting to a remote workforce, the restrictive social distancing measures forced multiple sectors to find new ways to achieve their goals.
Community fundraising events and efforts were particularly challenged given the traditional in-person nature of banquets, auctions, golf tournaments, walk-a-thons, and other initiatives that required large gatherings of people. Like most organizations that rely on public appeals to help raise funds for charitable causes, the Rotary Club of Guelph South saw many of the traditional events on its annual fundraising calendar postponed or cancelled, including a pasta dinner the club had hosted for the past 19 years.
With things returning to post-COVID normalcy, the fundraising committee at the 22-year-old Rotary Club of Guelph South are once again developing and delivering important fundraising events.
Their newest initiative is an upcoming affair called The Brunch at The Barn.
“We were charged with brainstorming a new event to replace some of the things we had to abandon,” said Celia Clark, past president of the Rotary Club of Guelph South and Co-chair of the Brunch at The Barn committee. “We were looking for something new and exciting and different. We wanted it to not be COVID dependant, something that wouldn’t be in a crowded indoor space but that would allow us to get back to an in-person activity.
The Club discovered that the new Barn Swallow Fields at Thatcher Farms facility was available for rent and will now play host to the event scheduled for June 4th.
The upscale event is being touted as “the epitome of fun-meets-fundraising,” and will feature live music, mimosa bar, catered lunch, silent and live auction, fun games and more. Well-known local auctioneer Robert Milburn of Milburn Auto Sales and Service will host the auction portion, with proceeds going directly to local and international charitable initiatives supported by the Rotary Club of Guelph South, one of four Rotary clubs operating in the Guelph area.
“We are the newest Club in the area although we’ve been around 22 years,” said Clark, whose Club has raised over $500,000 for various charitable causes. “We’re hoping to make this an annual event. Our goal is to ensure people have a nice brunch at the barn but the goal is to raise money for the five local charities and other initiatives as well.”
Tickets for the Brunch at The Barn are $75 each and only 170 are available for purchase. The Brunch is being exclusively catered by Indulge Catering, and all menu items will be organic and locally sourced. Those with allergies hoping to attend can connect with organizers prior to the event to ensure they can enjoy appropriate menu items.
For details on how to support or sponsor this inaugural charity event and to purchase your tickets, visit the Rotary Club of Guelph South’s website.