Over the past year there have been several fundraisers for several different reasons, but a new model has emerged this year that swaps multiple small fundraisers for one large one that benefits multiple individuals in one evening. It began within a subset of the local Filipino population who were looking to help others from their region of the Philippines, but they quickly realised that there were many community members in need. While that includes the whole community, and not just temporary foreign workers or permanent residents from the Filipino community, it is often those people who know less about where to turn to for help and are far from their previous support networks.

Before this event, say the organizers, a lot of the fundraising took place on Facebook or door to door, when someone would put out a call to help a friend or neighbour in need. That type of support was valuable, but inefficient. One thing they also wanted to do was combine helping people with letting supporters get out and enjoy themselves, too. It’s not just the money that’s important for the recipients, they say, but the feeling that there are people who are supporting them in their struggle.

The event came together quickly, including live music, dance lessons, a mini darts tournament, and lots of social time. Recipients were invited to speak at the event, and the father of a young girl needing a liver transplant said of the challenge they were facing that, “I  felt like I was David versus Goliath,” and for the first time in weeks he feels hope, thanks to this event.

Most of the needs they’re meeting with this first event are medical, including a cancer diagnosis, the aforementioned transplant, and a family member who recently passed, but the organisers don’t want to make it exclusive to that need. Another recipient, for instance, is looking for help to get his wife to Canada, and earlier this year the community came together to help local residents who lost their home to a fire.

Organizers say they hope this is just the beginning, and more events like it will follow so that everyone has the support they need.