Proceeds are still being counted from two concerts held on the weekend to benefit flood victims, but the shows are already being called an overwhelming success.
The first and largest of the concerts was held at the Gallagher Centre Curling Rink on Friday night. The "Flood Fund 2010" cabaret was initiated when local musician Will Woods dropped by Ken Kohlert's store, Fuzztone Music, shortly after the devastating July 1 flood.
"He said we should do a benefit, and we kind of jumped on it," explained Kohlert.
The pair visited Yorkton Council with the idea, and were granted the use of the curling rink on the last weekend in August.
"And then the thing turned into a much bigger event than we could imagine."
Donations of silent auction items poured in from local businesses. The Kinsmen, Kinettes, and Rotary Club offered their services. Musicians lined up to play in the show free of charge.
In the end, the organizers had a list of more than 150 auction items and a dozen performers, most of them from right in Yorkton. Alcohol sales by the Kinsmen, 50/50 draws by the Rotary Club, a rose sale sponsored by Grower Direct, and some significant cash donations would add to the proceeds.
The money is still needed. Dozens remain homeless in Yorkton as a result of the flood, and organizations such as the Red Cross and the Salvation Army have been assisting them in the months since.
Those two organizations will receive the majority of the fundraiser's proceeds. Other recipients may be decided at a later date.
"There's no question that the Red Cross and the Salvation Army were first on hand and spent a lot of money helping people right away. So we've got to help those guys first," said Kohlert.
More than 700 tickets were sold for the night. On Monday, the preliminary total showed more than $30,000 raised, with liquor and silent auction sales still being counted.
"It was a total community effort," Kohlert said. "Everybody was more than anxious to work for the cause."A second flood relief concert was held two nights later by "The Rock" 100.5 FM. All performers at this concert were from the Yorkton area.
"We're a radio station, so we love promoting local Christian artists," said the station's general manager, Dennis Dyck.
Two artists, Rayanne Ottenbreit and the band Wired by Fire, participated in both of the weekend's shows.
Originally planned as an outdoor concert, rain forced the event inside to Heritage Baptist Church, but turnout was still strong. Over 200 people were in attendance.
All money at this event was collected through a free will offering. Proceeds for the evening totaled about $1200, to be split between the Salvation Army and the Red Cross.
"We're very pleased," said Dyck.
