On Mardi Gras, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009, the youth from five churches from around Albert Lea who are going to the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans this July held a fundraiser. We had a silent auction and a jambalaya lunch.

But it seemed like there was a lack of interest. We were expecting to get a nice-sized turnout for the fundraiser, but to our surprise not that many members from our churches showed up. Not that we had no one show up. We were just expecting more people to show. We ended up having half of the food left because the lack of people. It just seems a little disappointing with the size of our community.

Some of the people I talked to afterward who didn’t come didn’t even know the fundraiser was going on. We had publicized somewhat. We had little posters hanging in our church and in our bulletin there were small announcements as well. But I guess next time we will have to publicize better and try to get more people interested. But I do think that those who did know but just didn’t show could show a little more support as well.

But I don’t want to only complain. I also want to thank those who showed up to our fundraiser for their support.

Alex Wieland

Albert Lea