Cinco de Mayo celebrated at fundraisers
A resident has fun with one of the photo booth items at Leadership Sandpoint's Cinco de Mayo fundraiser in 2023. This year's event will benefit NAMI Far North.
File photo/CAROLINE LOBSINGER
SANDPOINT — Multiple fundraisers will be hosted in Sandpoint during the weekend of Cinco de Mayo.
On Sunday, May 5, from noon to 4 p.m., music, food, drinks, raffles, an auction and activities for the whole family will be available on the block of Main Street between First and Second avenues for a community fundraiser supporting NAMI Far North.
The fundraiser, hosted by Leadership Sandpoint, will contribute funds to NAMI’s new Sand Creek Clubhouse.
A clubhouse is a community-based service dedicated to supporting and empowering people living with mental illness, known as clubhouse members, Dawn Mehra, NAMI Far North board president, said. Based on the clubhouse model of psychosocial rehabilitation, each clubhouse offers a collaborative, restorative environment where members can recover by gaining access to opportunities for employment, socialization, education, skill development, housing and improved wellness.
"We need to have a place for people to go when they are recovering or maybe establishing themselves back into society again, after being treated for a serious mental illness," Mehra said. “The rehabilitation program provides those living with mental illness a chance to access the same world of friendship, housing, education, and employment as the rest of the community.”
Each year, Leadership Sandpoint, a program within the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, selects an organization to fundraise for during the annual block party fundraiser. The graduating class selects different needs each year after viewing presentations from local organizations. following present projects to the current year’s class.
Another fundraiser, happening Friday, May 3, will support Valor High School. The second annual “Bingo de Mayo” fundraiser will feature a night of prizes and fun beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tickets will include 10 bingo cards and a dauber for $15 at the door. Extra bingo cards, food and drinks will be available for purchase. Organizers ask that attendees be over 8 years old. This event will be held at Parkside Church, 423 N. Lincoln Ave.