Creative Tables continues to make a big difference for those going through the fight with cancer.
The 12th annual event happened Oct. 17 at the Prairie Place hall in Arcola. The event, which supports the Look Good Feel Better Foundation, is made special by the hard-working and energetic co-ordinator and host, Darlene Olsen, and a dedicated team of volunteers.
From the moment one walks through the door, they notice the effort that has gone into this night’s gala.
Arcola Daycare volunteers greeted the guests as they arrived. These volunteers contribute in every capacity to the night’s success, setting up the venue, bartending, cleaning up and handling anything else that needs to be done.
This year there were 41 sponsored tables, each one with a theme picked by the business or individual sponsor. The tables are all beautifully decorated, Olsen said.
“The hostesses, they just do an amazing job,” said Olsen. “And until a person has been to Creative Tables, you have no clue the amount of creativity and work that these women do into making their table of eight or 10 or 12 just be really outstanding. And without them, there is no event. They just do an amazing job.”
As well as the sponsored tables, there was a silent auction consisting of 120 items donated by businesses and individuals from afar and locally. In addition, supporters could purchase a raffle ticket on a chance to win a trip to a Winnipeg Jets hockey game.
At the start of the evening’s program, Olsen welcomed everyone. The meal was then served by each table’s host. The meal consisted of a salad, chicken breast and a delicious lasagna. Each table is served a different dessert unique to the table’s theme.
Olsen returned to the podium after the meal and announced the evening’s guest speaker, who is a woman living with cancer, was unable attend due to her ongoing cancer fight. It served as a reminder of the importance of the evening.
Arcola Daycare board member Jade Moore spoke next and thanked all those that have volunteered and worked to make this evening a success.
Shae and Hannah Johnston took to the stage where they entertained the crowd with three songs: Leaving on a Jet Plane, Homecoming Queen and Girl, to the delight of the crowd.
“They were extremely good, and I think everybody really enjoyed them,” said Olsen. “They had never sung in front of that many people before, and for young girls, they did an outstanding job.”
Ghislaine Carter then read a letter on behalf of Christine Legg, who was unable to be in attendance, and it explains the workings of the Shoe Box Project, which is a foundation that has raised $9 million for women in shelters who are victims of partner violence.
Kim Craig was next to speak on behalf of Look Good Feel Better. She is from Mary Kay’s corporate office in Mississauga, Ont., and she explained the importance of the foundation, which provides support to 10,000 women each year.
It is represented in 110 hospitals and cancer sites across Canada and has programming in 26 countries.
The evening had a large number of first-timers attending.
Olsen said the event was once again a big success, with excellent support from the community.
An estimate was not available for how much money was raised. There are still bills to be paid, and Olsen said it typically takes about three weeks before they can say how much money they raised.
But she is always impressed with the turnout. Many fundraisers have a shelf life of a few years, because people eventually stop coming.
“For us to have a sold out event for 10-plus years is pretty remarkable, I think,” she said. “And I’ve already got people … booking their tables for next year. I probably have about 15 tables already booked out of 40. And so I think it’s pretty remarkable that the local people attend and the businesses and the sponsors donate money, and the businesses donate for the silent auction.”
And she energetically noted that next year’s Creative Tables is already booked for Arcola on Oct. 15, 2020.
