Thank You Volunteers!

Thanks to everyone who made the fundraiser a great success.

Could not have done it without you!

Marilyn (maker of fantastic holuzski & infallible on-call helper)

John & Phil (doormen extrordinaire)

Aaron (manning the beer station at critical moment)

Diane (jumping in to help get the pierogi ready)

Emre (great impromptu violin addition to dont panic's musical offerings)

Thank You to Everyone Who Donated

Thanks for participating in our fundraiser. The photos of the night will soon be available online. If you came to the event you will receive an email with a link to the album.

We will have more information soon on how much money was raised. Eveyone had a great time and we heard a lot of really positive feedback.

Thanks Again!

Rain or Shine Beer Garden is on

Just wanted to let you guys know that rain or shine the Beer Garden is happening.

We've gotten some phone calls from concerned individuals and just wanted to let everyone know that we're prepared in case of inclement weather.

See everyone tomorrow!

October Letter from Zambia with photos

We just got an email update from Mukonchi Mission. Here is a translated excerpt from the letter, along with some of the photos we received:

Pani Alicjo,
Greetings from sweltering Zambia. I received the emails you sent. . . . I'm sorry that I was not able to respond very quickly. In Zambia the situation with the electricity and communications is horrible . . . . today I am in Kabwe, at an internet cafe and I'm trying to send some (photos).

...On the topic of the most pressing needs at the Mukonchi mission at the present time, I will just sketch them out quickly:

a) The launch, at the beginning of the coming year, of a six-month course in sewing and carpentry for young people (purchase of needed materials and basic tools, as well as compensation for two instructors).

b) Fr. Maciek is dreaming of building fields for basketball and volleyball - for youth sports

c) renovation of the preschool (painting), necessary equipment, and a playground for the kids, compensation for the preschool teachers.

d) Building of several quarters (booths) to serve as toilets (WC), washrooms, and changing rooms. What is needed is some place where the youth, after sporting activities, could at least wash off a bit....

Z Bogiem

x. Grzegorz

Round the corner

Greetings,
this is Lukasz from dont panic and it looks like "Beergarden" is right around the corner.
We are all in a mad dash in the last stretch of preparations and everything looks like it won't be done on time... which generally means that we're on schedule and everything will go off swimmingly. Tonight dont panic is getting together for a rehearsal for our cameo on Saturday so watch out... we're coming... ready or not... that goes for you all as well. Looking forward to seeing you all there and having a beer together. It does us good to know we can all get together enjoy eachothers company and raise money to send out to those in real need.

Beer Garden Raffle

Okay, so we worked out the details and here it is:
With every Beer Garden ticket you receive 1 raffle coupon.
Want to up your chances? Additional raffle coupons are $5.
Can't come to the Beer Garden?

You can still participate in the raffle.
You don't have to be present to win.

All money collected from the raffle goes to Mukonchi.
Raffle prizes, and any materials and time involved are 100% donated.

What's this raffle all about?
Well, we were trying to think of ways we can contribute our talents to raise some money for the mission. We have some photography and drawing abilities, so we went with that.
And since we were already thinking that it would be fun to not only get photos of the Beer Garden event, but also to do little photo shoots and charcoal sketches of people in the garden... so we thought, why not offer these photos and sketches for sale and then add that to the money we are sending to Mukonchi.

But since people are already being really generous with buying the tickets, we thought we could donate some of the photos and sketches for a raffle to give people a chance to get one for free.

So without further ado, here are the Prizes:

• 2 hour photo portrait session, date/time TBD between you and photographer, includes a matted print (1 prize)


• Professional 8x10 matted print of your choice from the Beer Garden (2 prizes)
  
• sketch in charcoal of you or someone else, done at the Beer Garden by artist ASP (2 prizes)

Also, if you're not lucky enough to win and want a print of a photo from the event they will be available for ordering:

• 1 - 8x10 matted print $15


• 10 - 4x6 prints: $15 (does not have to be the same photo)

If someone wants to have a photo session and is willing to pay the full price then MP will also donate that money to Mukonchi. Session fees are $200/2 hours and include a CD of the photos. This is for any photo session booked in the month of October.

If you don't win the raffle but would still like a Charcoal Sketch done at the fundraiser then you can get one for $20.

Again, proceeds from everything sold at the Beer Garden event will be sent to Mukonchi.

Excerpt from a letter from Mukonchi

One of the latest emails that we received with updates about Mukonchi, Zambia. The correspondence isn't steady since it's a bit of a trek from the Mission to the nearest town to get to internet access. But I will translate (from Polish) and post any updates we receive:

Mrs. Alicja,
I think a lot of time has passed not only since I last emailed you, but also since we met in Kielce (Poland).... I'm really happy that I had a chance to meet you and Andrzej. I am very greatful for all your help.... I think I mentioned (in a previous letter) that I used some of the money to purchase a couple dozen pairs of shoes for the childern from the pre-school, school uniforms, paid for school exam fees, and a part of the money went to pay the pre-shool staff and the instructors for sewing and carpentry (at the Youth Training Centre). From the previous money I recieved I bought 40 blankets for those (children) in most need of them ..., not to mention the financing in many instances of transportation costs and medical care for a large group of people. ...Again I want to extend my thanks to you for all your help for the Mukonchi mission. fr. Grzegorz