Spencer gala scales back in wake of flooding

By DAWN PROSSER
Director of Communications
 
The Clay County town of nearly 11,000 is one of many northwest Iowa communities that will be managing the aftermath of the historic June 2024 flooding for months to come. Area media reported that Spencer Mayor Steve Bomgaars estimated that 40% of homes in Spencer and 30% of local businesses were impacted.
 
The Spencer Sacred Heart Parish and School community – parishioners, school students and staff – were among those deeply affected by the disaster. As recovery will be lengthy, Sacred Heart is reimagining the annual major fundraising gala and “taking a different focus.”
 
“The recovery will take a long time, and in many cases, will have a significant financial impact, not to mention the mental, emotional and spiritual impact,” Father Kevin Richter wrote in a recent social media post. “This year’s gala will primarily be a social event that is meant to give people the opportunity to gather and support one another as members of the Sacred Heart family.”
 
The pastor noted the Nov. 9 gala will have a theme of “Hope Blooms: Rebuilding Together,” to “celebrate the efforts to renew our community as a whole as well as the overall spirit within the school itself.”
 
Tickets to the event will be reduced from $75 to $50 to make attendance more affordable for supporters as many are struggling. The $50 price will cover the overhead costs of the gala – meal, beverages and entertainment.
 

Heaps of drywall from flooded homes lined the Spencer streets/ flood photos courtesy of Melissa Pick

“In addition, as we recognize that many businesses are also struggling, we will have a very limited number of items available for the auction this year,” Father Richter wrote. “We will have the annual raffle for those who wish to purchase a ticket for a chance to win $5,000.”
 
The decision to downscale the gala and change the focus was made by the Sacred Heart staff and gala committee in light of the widespread damage to homes and businesses, Sacred Heart Development Director Melissa Pick explained. (Pick’s home was one of the many Spencer residences that experienced massive damage from the flood waters.)
 
“This was our idea in hopes to alleviate costs,” she said. “We knew many businesses were affected and will be unable to donate. We want to do our best to accommodate and help. We understand many of our businesses will simple be unable to donate due to their own losses.”
 
Pick and the pastor pointed out that the gala will focus more on bringing the community together for support.
 
“Our upcoming gala is a chance for us to unite and join in an evening of coming together as we continue to heal and move forward with a little bit of fun involved,” Pick wrote to the supporters.
 
“The night will be simple but at the same time it will be a great opportunity to be together as the Sacred Heart family,” Father Richter said.
 
In a typical year, funds raised at a Catholic school annual gala or auction are crucial to the organization’s operational budget or earmarked for needed projects at the school. Pick explained Sacred Heart “will adjust” to the change in plans for the gala.

 

Sacred Heart students

“We have all been affected in one way or another,” she said. “Funds raised each year go to different projects, upgrades and trainings at our school, so those projects and upgrades may have to be scaled back this year.” 

The development director said the school is hopeful that the gala will bring in some revenue from the auction and raffle. However, “the primary goal is to offer a sense of normalcy and bring our families together for an enjoyable evening.”
 
The Sacred Heart community has been working to help their neighbors affected by the flooding through providing “crucial supplies, have hosted laundry days, organized a community festival,” provided cash for community fundraisers and other efforts.
 
“All Sacred Heart students will be provided with all school supplies for the upcoming year. Our community is raising funds to cover the cost for all Spencer students and we made a donation to help with that,” Pick explained.
 
Sacred Heart is hopeful that the reimagined gala event “will provide a welcome break and chance to connect and celebrate together,” Pick said.