ByShoba Dasari
Today at 10:06 AM
Horses, games and community spirit came together Thursday night as the Red River Riding Club held its second annual Benefit Night, raising approximately $1,000 and collecting 171 pounds of food for the Richland-Wilkin Emergency Food Pantry
The event, held Aug. 6 at the Red River Riders Arena in Breckenridge, drew about 23 riders along with spectators from the community a member of the Red River Riding Club and a volunteer with the food pantry
Tschakert said proceeds from rider registration fees, concessions and donations will benefit the food pantry
“I thought it was very successful,” Tschakert said. “We had quite a few riders there, and I think our attendance, the spectators, was good.”
The evening featured a variety of riding and timed events designed for both children and adults. Events included Western Pleasure, barrel racing, a sack race, monkey on a barrel and a candy bar race
Age divisions included lead line, Pee Wee, junior, intermediate, senior and senior-plus categories
Tschakert said the event was originally scheduled for July 30 but was postponed because of the rain. Good weather conditions Thursday allowed the event to go forward comfortably for both participants and animals
“The weather cooperated, which was really nice,” Tschakert said
One of the highlights for Tschakert was seeing the generosity of those who attended. Spectators were asked to bring a nonperishable food item or personal hygiene product, while proceeds from the event were donated to the pantry
Laurie Drewlow, vice-chair of the Richland-Wilkin Emergency Food Pantry, said 171 pounds of food had been collected and put away following the event
The donated products were immediately placed on the pantry’s shelves and will be available to clients, Drewlow said
The donations come at an important time for the pantry. Drewlow said the organization recently experienced its highest weekly usage ever, while this time of year typically brings fewer donations
“Our shelves are dwindling,” Drewlow said. “This is also the time of the year when we get the fewest donations.”
The pantry is currently in need of a variety of items, including canned vegetables, beans, canned chicken and tuna
Drewlow said events such as the Benefit Night provide more than food and financial support. They also help raise awareness of the pantry’s services, including its mobile unit, which travels throughout Richland and Wilkin counties
“It’s the awareness,” Drewlow said. “People who didn’t know that we had a mobile unit saw it on that night.”
The mobile unit allows the pantry to reach residents beyond its physical location in Wahpeton and provide assistance to more people across the two counties
Drewlow said the pantry’s work would not be possible without the support of area communities
“It would be impossible for us to do what we do to help as many people as we do without our strong communities standing behind us,” she said
Tschakert said the riding club also sees the event as a way to give back to the community. While the club has not yet decided which organization it may support next year, she said members plan to continue the tradition of holding a benefit
“We as a club certainly want to give back in any way we can,” Tschakert said
Drewlow expressed her appreciation to the riders, spectators and organizers who contributed to the fundraiser
“We thank them from the bottom of our hearts that they stood behind us and helped us,” she said. “We’re the hands of the communities, just making sure that those people receive what they need.”
By
Shoba Dasari
Shoba Dasari is the assistant managing editor for the Wahpeton Daily News and Richland County News Monitor. Shoba can be reached by calling (701) 291-3548 or emailing shoba.dasari@wahpetondailynews.com.
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