18-year old Brianne Bartel has successfully been collecting donations for her Hero Holiday Humanitarian trip, after putting on an information session and hot dog sale.
Bartel raised $1,917.88 at the information session she held last week, bringing her total amount of donations to $2,242.88. It’s not certain how much was made from the hot dog sale that Cathy Horcroft of Dundee Wealth held on Friday to raise funds for her cause, but Bartel says that it was very steady throughout the day.
Despite original plans, Bartel will not be putting this money towards purchasing gifts for the family. Hero Holiday is trying to get people away from giving gifts, as it has become unhealthy in the community for a number of reasons. Instead, Bartel will be purchasing “fun packs”, which include a number of items including colouring books, crayons, soccer/basket/baseballs, bubbles, and more. The remainder of donations will be given to the Dominican Republic Emergency Relief Fund, which is used for medical procedures throughout the year, purchasing groceries for those who cannot, and various other things of this nature.
Absolute Leadership Development hosts Hero Holiday, where Canadians are given the opportunity to go on global humanitarian trips to either Mexico, Thailand, Haiti or the Dominican Republic. On these trips, people work in a community to either help build homes, distribute supplies, provide food, provide mobile medical clinics or work with children who are at risk.
Bartel will leave on June 3, first heading to Toronto for an orientation and to prepare for the trip before heading to Sosua in the Dominican Republic.
Anyone wishing to drop off donations to Brianne can do so by calling 250 627-7374, or can drop them off at Rupert Cleaners. Donations of $20 or more can receive a tax receipt.
Bartel’s original fundraising goal for additional fundraising was $700.