CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Amanda Beaton set a goal of $1,000 for herself when she decided to raise money to help Australians and animals suffering in the perpetual wildfires scorching the country.
Then, when vendors in Founder’s Food Hall and other local businesses came on board, the co-founder of Truckin’ Roll thought.
“Well, $10,000, then?”
They blew past that goal easily on Jan. 9, raising $15,245.26. The money will be split between the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) Foundation, which provides immediate financial assistance to CFS volunteers and families in the event of death, injury or loss of property, and WIRES, Australia’s largest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation service.
While the number is impressive, it was a symbol of something much greater, said Beaton.
“Mostly the power of the community when we band together to care about other people, other places and other animals. We’re all all here together.”
The fundraiser featured a silent auction with over 100 items donated by local businesses, while vendors in the Hall donated some or all of their proceeds from the day.
For their part, Truckin’ Roll donated 100 per cent of their ice cream sales and likely met Beaton’s original $1,000 goal on their own, she said.
“We didn’t count our money, but given how many 20 [dollar bills] were there, I think we did.”
While making that much ice cream kept her busy, at one point Beaton managed to take a short break to take in the scene, she said.
“I did have a moment to walk around and it was really special. It was probably the single best day we’ve had at Founders’.”
Beaton managed to pull together the event in only a few days—four days and three hours, to be exact—with lots of help once things got rolling.
To all those involved, she had a final message.
“Thank you to everybody who came out and contributed, however they could. Together we made a difference.”
