Contributed by LuLu Small
McKinley Fire FUN-Raiser
10/11/19 – 5 PM - 10 PM
Willow Community Center
69 Parks Hwy, Willow
$10 Donation Per Person Suggested
Almost immediately upon hearing that many of my friends, a few ‘fans’, and associates whom I’ve garnered over 41 years of performing along Alaska’s road systems (especially the Parks Highway) had lost their homes or business or were about to, I HAD to jump into high gear once again and try to figure out HOW to possibly help. A musical fundraiser is always first in mind, as some people would prefer to attend an event instead of just sending money somewhere. And putting together such an event to HELP someone is a natural instinct in me, a force of the universe, a divine intervention that overtakes my current personal situations and somehow manages to guide me to gather the posse of people needed to help pull it all together, especially in a short amount of time.
Those ‘forces’ become sources that escalate into a magnitude of incredible humanitarianism though the network of pure and honest devotion to helping someone without expectation of return favors or profit. I was grateful beyond words and emotion when I was graced with the generosity of many Alaskans, starting with Josh Fryfogle & Make A Scene Magazine, who put together a special benefit over 9 years ago for me when I was enduring hip replacements without having insurance, along with living alone and going through a divorce, and many Alaskans jumped on that bandwagon and traveled many miles to help and participate! I still feel the ongoing support and love, and many of those people are already involved with helping with this upcoming “Fun-Raiser” to help generate a few more dollars for the fire victims so close to winter time.
When I put the word out on my Facebook page, almost immediately people started responding, starting with Michele Stevens from the Petersville Community non-profit, who has been doing a LOT of ‘footwork’ including but not limited to securing the building, and gathering MANY other major corporate donations, along with traveling even more miles to get the word out. I have called upon my musical pals in the valley (and a few from Anchorage) who are more than happy to donate their time on a Friday night. Visiting relatives of Alaskans have even offered to help, as well as the plethora of volunteers already signing up!
We DO get by with a little help from our friends, even if we haven’t met them yet. THAT is the theme of this event I believe, the ‘Heart of Alaska’ coming together through the unforeseen adversity to put out the flames and put on the love gloves and get busy!
