Image Credit: Kamloops Music Collective

By Dylana Kneeshaw

FIRE RECOVERY 50/50

Kamloops Music Collective launches 50/50 fundraiser to replace instruments damaged in fire response

Oct 18, 2024 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Music Collective has launched a new raffle ticket fundraiser to purchase new instruments, after many of their supplies were wrecked during a fire event at the Kamloops United Church building.

At the time of the August fire, the Music Collective was in the building for a summer program and managed to get out safely. However, the instruments stored in that side of the building were damaged during the fire extinguishing work.

“By the time we got in, which was less than a week after, all of our instruments had molded or they had just come apart. All of our guitars — obviously, wood and water don’t go well together,” explains Taqueesha Lightfoot, the community connections and fundraiser for Kamloops Music Collective. “We’re trying to do a 50/50 to replace a lot of our instruments that we unfortunately can’t replace through insurance — or are unable to replace them as much as we want to through insurance.”

The fire took place toward the end of the organization’s summer programming schedule and the program has been managing with the instruments and supplies that were kept in another office space but the dozens of instruments that were damaged will need to be replaced before the busy spring and summer program schedule.

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“Tickets are one for $10, five for $35 or 10 for $50, and we’re hoping to raise $20,000 to replace equipment and instruments lost in the fire,” adds Kamloops Music Collective Program Coordinator Rachel Reid.

Throughout 2024, Lightfoot says the non-profit was able to award more than $20,000 in scholarships and bursaries to students. Every year, the organization offers music education classes and programs to more than 400 students in the Kamloops area, including the popular Kamloops Interior Summer School of Music (KISSM).

“We run nine different programs throughout the year and it doesn’t matter what socioeconomic situation you’re in, we make sure all children can attend,” adds Lightfoot. “We run programs over spring break to help with child care, we run programs all throughout the summer, as well as our Whole Note program where we make sure that families who might not be able to afford private music lessons have access to that.”

Their Fire Recovery 50/50 fundraiser is now underway and the draw date is set for December 16, 2024. Tickets can be purchased online.

Image Credit: Kamloops Music Collective