MALLAIG – Pie by pie, the Mallaig community raised just under $4,000 for the Mallaig Baptist Church Youth Group and the Mallaig and District Museum during a fundraiser pie auction on March 21.
Kelsey Snyder, one of the organizers, said the funding will help with the youth group's initiatives, including helping expand RV sites at the church's Moose Lake Baptist Bible Camp. The camp, which has been running for over 80 years, costs approximately about $250 per person for food and other necessities, explained Synder.
But the camp is donation-based, he said. So, anybody is welcome to join.
"We get kids from all kinds of backgrounds and communities," he said. Snyder also urges community members interested in participating to watch out for future announcements about registrations.
For the museum, Snyder said the funding will be used to help with the operational costs and maintenance of the facility, including hiring a worker when the museum opens for the summer.
"Everything goes up [in cost], so we just do anything we can to help each other," he said.
About 70 people attended the pie auction, bidding on over 50 pies baked by members of the youth group, and some donated by members of the community.
Among the more aggressive bidders was Brad Ambler, who had already purchased four pies during the first half of the auction. At the time, he said he hadn't even bought pies for himself yet, explaining he bid for people who could not make it to the auction, but still wanted to purchase pies.
The auction was held for good cause, he said, and being able to help "make a few bucks for the community," makes the money well spent.
Raymond Amyotte, president of the museum, thanked everybody who came out. He said it is because of the support from the community that the museum still exists today. There may be challenges faced by the museum, but, "As long as everybody supports us, we'll be alright."
Snyder agreed.
"We are really thankful to everyone who came out and bought a pie, or even [people who] came out just to fill up the space, visit and have a piece of pie," he said. He hopes more people will come out next year.
