MALLAIG – The blue sky stretched overhead on a sunny Saturday afternoon, and below the Mallaig Ag Society grounds came alive. Bouncy houses were set up, their vivid colours a playful touch to the green grass, inviting lively leaps and exuberant tumbles from children.
In a corner of the field, a cluster of kids gathered around a face painting station, their faces applied with strokes of paint, turning little faces into artful canvases. The eager smiles did not end there, as a tug-of-war was played in a nearby area, where kids and parents dug their feet into the ground, mingling with both competitive and friendly matches.
Nearby, a group of seniors were playing in an indoor crib tournament. A couple of interested youths also joined in the game, wanting to learn, much to the glee of the seniors who eagerly showed them the ropes of the card game.
On June 3, the Mallaig School Parent Fundraising Committee hosted Mallaig Madness, a fundraiser event that involved various members of the school community, including students, parents, and teachers from the kindergarten to Grade 12 school.
“We’re raising money for the school,” said Lisa Dunlop, chair of the committee. But the other aim of the event was even more simple - “Just have fun.”
According to Dunlop, the committee is raising money for a new bus, as well as raising funding to allow for more activities for K-12 students at Mallaig School.
For example, “we do hot dog lunches for the school,” Christmas lunches, a healthy snack program, and eventually, Dunlop said they also hope to partially fund field trips.
The June 3 event was the first ever Mallaig Madness, according to Dunlop, expressing her excitement with the turnout of the inaugural event.
Dunlop thanked all those who stopped by, as well as those who sponsored the event, and the volunteers who offered their time to help out.
“Next year, we do need more volunteers,” Dunlop said with a laugh. “It’s been a long, long day,” she added, quickly offering thanks to everyone for attending.
