By Michelle Patnick, President of the Hopewell Harvest Fair | [email protected]
When most people think about the Harvest Fair, they think about gathering with their community for some fun and entertainment. There are two things frequently overlooked: this event is a robust fundraising platform for local nonprofits, and the Hopewell Harvest Fair itself is a nonprofit 100% powered by volunteers. I did not realize either until I started volunteering for the Fair, and I would love to tell you more.
Each year, the Hopewell Harvest Fair hosts a Community Grant Program post-Fair. After operational costs are covered, the excess money gets donated to local nonprofits that apply for project-based funding via an application on our website. Last year, we distributed $16,000 in grants across 17 different organizations – check out our website for more info. Over the years, we have donated more than $225,000.
So where does the money come from? In the months leading up to the Fair, we raise money from local business sponsors and the vendor participation fees we charge. These funds cover the operational costs of the Fair, and any excess is set aside for the Grant Program. By the time the day of the Fair comes, it is completely paid for, and all your money spent on tickets for games and activities will be distributed to local charities post-fair. We also have some nonprofit food and activity vendors, who directly raise money for their organizations.
I know that our community likes to shop local to support small businesses – vote with your dollar they say – and in this regard, the Fair is a tremendous value. But did you know you can also vote with your time by volunteering for the organizations you love? By combining these two actions, you create powerful network effects that strengthen and support the causes you care about.
Not-for-profit events like ours don’t just happen out of nowhere; they need to operate like businesses, and professionals of all types are needed to volunteer – from project managers to designers, marketers, and electricians. I had no idea how much time, effort, and planning it took from so many people to sustain an event until I started volunteering.
We need your help! Each year our committee hangs by a thread, with a few key organizers carrying most of the weight using the time they can squeeze in between work, school, parenting, and the rest of life. With more help, we can share the load and ensure that the Fair keeps coming back year after year. I bet you might even have some ideas on how we can improve the Fair experience, and we want to hear them! But remember that we will need a volunteer to turn that idea into a reality.
There’s a reason why the Find Freddy scavenger hunt has been on hiatus for these last few years. I invite you to join me at the 36th annual Hopewell Harvest Fair on September 21st (rain date Sept 28). And if you want to make sure that we come back again next year, please reach out to volunteer!
