HEALTHY BACKING.
Stuart McKinnon of Muskoka EMS accepts a $300 donation from Kahshe Country Craft Show organizer Judy Ring for the Racing Against Drugs youth education program.
Submitted photo
GRAVENHURST - This past summer represented the 30th anniversary of the not-for-profit Kahshe Country Craft Show and local organizations are still feeling the benefits.
About two months ago show organizers handed over $300 to the Gravenhurst Fire Department for its smoke detector program and since then two more major donations have been made with proceeds from the event. A $300 donation has also been given to the region’s EMS department for its Racing Against Drugs program, while $4,400 has been given to Gravenhurst’s Supper Club.
“They are there as friends to make your day a little easier,” Ring said of the reason for supporting the club as the main recipient this year.
“The guests range from children to seniors, some have fallen on hard (times) and some are looking for community acceptance and a family atmosphere. They have created their own community family, no judgments; everyone is accepted for who they are.”
The craft show’s activities were held in honour of the event’s original founder, Lois Ogle. Current organizer Judy Ring said Ogle started the show as a way to showcase her daughter’s talent.
“Lois always wanted this show to be a non-profit show and to give to different organizations that needed a boost with their fundraising,” Ring said. “Her good friends Marion Edwards and Beth Kennett both donated their time and knowledge to the show.”
This year the Kahshe Country Crafts Show raised $5,000 to give back to the community and since its inception has given out more than $80,000 to various community organizations.
“We cannot thank our many donors enough,” Ring said. “Their donations, money or items for the silent auction and prizes help raise our total donations throughout the years.”