Recipe for Relief raises thousands

By Lindsay Dickson
Editor-in-Chief

Approximately $10,000 was raised Sunday, Oct. 28, at the Recipe for Relief, a benefit for Saint Mary’s University employees impacted by the August 2007 floods. More than 160 students, staff, faculty and friends of the SMU community attended this event filled with food, music and a silent auction.

The event included items and services donated to the silent auction, hors d’oeuvres made by 22 SMU “celebrity chefs,” and music provided by SMU faculty, staff and students. “It was nice to see how much people put forth to make this happen,” said Katie LaPlant, director of student activities and volunteer services.
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The staff and faculty volunteer committee started planning Recipe for Relief early this fall. “We wanted one solid community response and we thought [Recipe for Relief] was the best way to do that,” said LaPlant. LaPlant has been a member of the committee since she began working at SMU in 2004.

Although about $10,000 was raised at the event, over $20,000 was raised in all, including monetary donations.

The majority of the money will be donated to SMU families affected by flooding, whose stories can be read at http://smumn-cn.blogspot.com/. The rest of the donations will be given to renters, parents of flood victims, and other victims who lost items in the flood, explained LaPlant.

Many members of the committee felt it was important to assist those in need. Vice President and General Counsel Ann Merchlewitz said “one of the hallmarks of SMU is that we have a close-knit community.”

Both Merchlewitz and LaPlant said they have received positive feedback on the event. The evening “had this great feel and great blend of SMU faculty and staff, music, and food,” said Merchlewitz. “It all lent itself to a very relaxing, fun evening.”

The volunteer committee also works with events including Gifts for Winona, Jeans for a Cause, and Let’s Do Lunch.