A record amount of funds were raised this year through Savour the Southeast, with all proceeds going towards funding at Envision Counselling and Support Centre Inc.
With more than $40,000 raised through the event, Envision said they couldn’t have been happier with the outcome.
“I just want to thank the southeast as a whole,” said Christa Daku, executive director with Envision. “For two years consecutively, we’ve run a deficit budget because of lack of government funding. We’ve never been a fundraising entity, and we have always relied on community and donor support. All the proceeds from Savour the Southeast will go directly to the services we provide.”
Founded in 1994 under the name Violence Intervention Program (VIP), Envision aims to provide counselling services as well as crisis intervention, in-home services, and education to help individuals and families in the community.
“I would have to say this is the largest donation we’ve ever received,” said Daku.
“The funding will be going directly towards public education and another component is obviously to provide client support and care through our counselling programs. Part of every dollar raised will touch each and every program whether directly or indirectly.”
Located at Affinity Place in May of this year, Savour the Southeast featured a large variety of alcohol and food vendors from across the province that came to showcase their products. Musical acts performed throughout the event.
“It takes a tremendous amount of volunteers to host an event like this,” said Daku.
“We had over 100 volunteer shifts to be filled and we would like to personally thank everybody who stepped up and took some of those shifts.”
Attracting more than 1,500 people, including exhibitors and over 130 volunteers, Savour the Southeast event has proven itself a great success and continues to be supported strongly by the community.
Josh LeBlanc, who co-chaired the Savour the Southeast committee, said that the entire team continues to be amazed by the amount of community support that they receive through Savour the Southeast and the amount of money able to be raised for Envision.
“This was our third year and it was another wonderful success,” said LeBlanc.
“Every year we’re blown away by the community. There is always great support for this event and we’re super happy they all came out again.”
Envision hopes to be able to continue to help the community with the funds raised and expresses deep gratitude to volunteers who were able to make the event such a success.
