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Family fun for a good cause

Okotoks’ community events specialist is kicking off the fall season by getting families outdoors for a good cause this weekend.
HarvestFest KC 09
Daniel Carriere gets set to fire a beanbag slingshot into a target at last year’s HarvestFest in Ethel Tucker Park. This year’s event takes place Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Okotoks’ community events specialist is kicking off the fall season by getting families outdoors for a good cause this weekend. Mark Doherty is organizing old-fashioned carnival games, a petting zoo, crafts, musical entertainment and horse-drawn wagons rides for HarvestFest in Ethel Tucker Park Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to raise money for United Way Okotoks. The wagon rides will begin in the parking lot and tour along South Railway Street. “It’s just an opportunity to get families together to get out and enjoy the fresh air and spend quality time together to help support United Way, which helps support some great agencies,” he said. “It’s a cool concept with fun activities for the kids and it helps the United Way with their fundraising efforts. “It’s all for a good cause.” HarvestFest has been supporting United Way Okotoks since 2012, said Sian Anderson, Okotoks community wellness and volunteer administrator and staff liaison for United Way Okotoks. The Okotoks partnership was created in 2002 through United Way of Calgary and Area, where a committee of volunteers run campaigns, fundraise and determine the needs of the community, she said. Money will be raised for the cause through participation in the old-fashioned carnival games, which cost $5 for 10 games, and a $5 barbecue, which includes a hamburger, chips or granola bar and beverage. Last year’s barbecue, carnival games and on-site donations raised $1,639.50 for the cause, said Anderson. United Way Okotoks selects local agencies to support each year through an application process, she said. This year’s agencies are Big Brothers Big Sisters, Foothills Community Immigrant Services, Christ the Redeemer Catholic School Division, Foothills Fetal Alcohol Society, Foothills School Division outreach education, Foothills SNAPS, Parent Link, Literacy for Life and Rowan House Emergency Shelter. “Each year the funding looks completely different, depending on what agencies have applied,” she said. “The amount of funding distributed to the agencies depends on how much is raised through campaigns and events like HarvestFest.” Anderson said the committee strives to raise money and awareness around the agencies it supports – for good reason. “Anything that supports the work of these agencies makes a huge difference to our residents here,” she said.

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