The Flagstaff Informed Response Sharing Team (FIRST) is once again hard at work planning its annual fundraising dinner, this year to be held in Heisler.
The FIRST dinner and auction rotates around all Flagstaff County communities, last year it was held in Sedgewick, and this year, Heisler is the host community. This year wil mark the event’s 26th anniversary in Flagstaff County, including two pandemic years when it was actually a non-event.
Last year the event raised the most money ever, with a grand total of $41,595 from ticket sales, auction proceeds, and other donations. That funds the work that FIRST does in the community, which includes its Mental Health initiative, the operation of the Care-A-Van, and the Gibson Place youth program, along with ongoing education, training, and promotional programs throughout the year, as well as partnerships to bring in speakers, like ‘Starting a Social Media Conversation’ with Jo Phillips, coming up Feb. 5 at Killam Public School.
Last year alone, FIRST also partnered with other groups in the Flagstaff Region to offer “It’s Not Right – How you can identify abuse and help older adults at risk,” a free webinar on Understanding Electricity and Natural Gas Utilities, bringing speaker Sam Demma – cofounder of the Pickwaste organization, to Daysland School, a decreasing domestic violence/sexual violence conference in Hardisty, bringing speaker/author Yasmine Mohammed to CHSPS in Sedgewick and the Killam Senior Centre, and sponsored the Gail Watt Annual Scholarship.
FIRST also published the Flagstaff Wellness Guide in 2023, featuring wellness practitioners throughout the region.
FIRST Board Member and FFCS Executive Director Lynne Jenkinson says that once again Dale Jones and Darrin Holben have donated their time and expertise as auctioneers for this year’s dinner, where a number of donated items will be available through silent and live auctions. These items are donated by individuals
and businesses throughout the region, and auctioned off that evening to raise funds for FIRST. Jenkinson says that all communities in Flagstaff are canvassed by FIRST board members, and adds, “We are grateful for everything that we get donated and given to us.”
Jenkinson says ticket sales are brisk, but that there are some still available, although she’d like to have them all sold by this coming Friday, Jan. 26. Tickets are available at FFCS in Killam.
Leslie Cholowsky
Editor