To Japan – with love from The County

More than 100 County residents and friends helped raise more than $3,000 for humanitarian relief in Japan last week at a Karaoke Kitchen Party: To Japan with love from the County.
“The evening was a grand smash success,” reports Mary Macdonald, co-organizer with her sister Jane, and friends. “We will be getting a final tally out this week but we made over $3,000 so far with more to come to be delivered to the Canadian Red Cross in Belleville.”
“So much talent and generosity here in the County. It was a pleasure to be involved. (See below slideshow and photographs for details.)”
To Japan with Love From The County – Phil Norton photographs. To order reprints of the photographs or from Phil Norton’s slideshow, visit www.philnorton.com

Jane and Mary Macdonald are making a difference and they’re inviting others to join them at an event for Japan – with love from the County.
Upon hearing about the earthquake, Mary tried to contact friend Monique Baena-Tan on Facebook who is a classmate from Queen’s BFA program and is in Japan teaching English. Thankfully, a reply message was quick to appear:
“Dearest mary, thank you so much for your message. i was in school when it happened, the building looked like jello. but everything is fine where i live. cant say the same for the rest of japan, its gonna be a long recovery. it was nice to hear from you! take care.”
“My sister and some friends are undertaking a fundraising event, an all-ages friendship party/shinbokukai for our friends in Japan. The Karaoke Kitchen Party: To Japan with love from the County, is set for Books & Co for Thursday, March 31st from 6-11 p.m. Proceeds collected will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross Society, ‘Japan Earthquake/Asia-Pacific Tsunami’ fund.
“Jane came up with the event because she has a big heart,” says Mary. “It just seems like a good thing to do, enable people to help in a disaster which affects us, indirectly, so we can harness the hope and the goodness that we all possess. These types of catastrophic events bring out the desire that we have as humans to help.”
“Bring your instrument, your best singing voice, your uncle, your knitting, your appetite.  We’re inviting everybody to come on down. We plan to have an evening of music and demonstrations (martial arts, flower arranging), a silent auction, food and beer and wine, crafts (origami, calligraphy, beading, etc.), displays and have a number of County folk committed so far.”

Michael Hoy is an award-winning chef, teacher and international culinary tour leader, and is the founder of Chef Michael Hoy Culinary, a hospitality company located in Prince Edward County.

Chef Micheal Hoy is donating a Sushi 101 class for six people in the winner’s home and artist Carl Weins has committed a Japanese woodcut print. Photographer Steven Draper (www.stevendraperphotography.com) will host an auction of seven prints with proceeds being used to purchase survival boxes through Disaster Aid Canada. The survival boxes allow individuals to get by for a number of months while infrastructure and cleaning takes place. Fraser Hardman and mark McGreevy will be among the musicians present for the evening.
Sheila Simmons  will do an ikebana demonstration (Japanese flower arranging) at 7:30; Donna Watson is featuring a County handspinners demonstration of needle felting and spinning; Toro Sushi – donating fresh sushi and Niall Eccles will offer 10 minute portraits. Small Pond Arts will perform a puppet show at 7 p.m.; Michael Grills Photography will take photo portraits against a Japan-themed back drop; Harry J. Clarke and Moira Secondary students will lead origami and puppet making.
Donations welcome at the door. Cash or cheques, please. Credit card use not available.

Artists, vendors, citizens looking for a way to help are invited to contact Jane Macdonald (613 970 0796) or Susanne Larner (613 922 5288).
“We need participants of all kinds to make this event a success.”
Here is the Fundraiser Facebook link:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=172476129468198

Facebook link to see all Steven Draper’s on-line auction prints:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Steven-Draper-Photography/194973900527996