District 2 Director Becky Goebel received a request for help from our sister Soroptimist Club in Idyllwild.  Please read the explanation of the situation from two natural disasters and the request from the club leadership.  HELP IF YOU CAN!

Dear Director Becky,

As you know, Idyllwild has had one heck of a year. 12 months ago, our mountain was in flames due to several fires an arsonist set, and due to some major good fortune, only 5 homes were completely destroyed. However, many more homes were damaged, along with properties and our community's livelihood. Five months ago on Valentine's Day, our mountain suffered another catastrophe with some of the highest rainfall on record. Highways 243 and 74 both washed out, and Highway 243 is still closed. Hwy 74 is open for a few hours every morning and throughout the evening to help alleviate some of the stress that commuters and students were facing with an added 90 minutes to their normal 30 minute commute to/from Hemet.

Why am I telling you all of this? Tourism in Idyllwild is at an all-time low, and our town's small businesses are suffering financially. SI Idyllwild holds an annual Spaghetti Dinner and Basket Festival in October, where we provide a free spaghetti dinner for our community (normally 300 people attend) and sell raffle tickets. The event is our largest fundraiser, and we net approximately $5,000 each year. We raffle off 5-7 themed baskets which are EACH valued at over $1,000. The items and gift certificates in these baskets are almost 100% donated by local community members and businesses.

I am fearful that this year, since tourism has been so low, that our local businesses will be unable to donate at the level they have been to in the previous 35+ years of holding the Basket Festival. However, I also know that this year, it is so important that we keep with tradition and put on the Basket Festival as I have a feeling more people are going to need that free spaghetti dinner.

Here is where you come in. After having attend another inspiring Spring Conference and hearing about the amazing things that the other clubs in our District and the other Districts are doing, I was wondering if at  the other clubs in our District might be able to donate something for our baskets? Or know of businesses who would be able to donate towards the Baskets? We are more and more isolated up here due to the road closures, and it is getting harder for us to find ourselves down the hill to solicit businesses for this event. Perhaps a few tickets to the PS Lunafest? or tickets to SI Corona's Chocolate Wine & Jazz event (even though they are in a different District)? Our basket themes are Wine & Dine, Children & Family, Garden, Kitchen, Travel, Spa, Mountain Folks, and Mystery.

Funds raised from the Basket Festival fund our monthly donations to the Soroptimist House of Hope, as well as our scholarship programs. Let me know if this is something that is even possible.

Thanks!

xo,

Theresa and Shelly