Let’s Go Fishing Says ‘Thank You’ to United States Veterans
“Thank you for your service.”
A lot of us say it. To the camouflaged young soldier we pass in the airport, or maybe the older gentleman in the black World War II service cap you see when you visit your grandmother in the nursing home. And we mean it. We might even buy their coffee or offer to let them go to the front of the line at the grocery store.
After all, they have risked or are currently risking life and limb to keep us and countless others around the world free and safe.
But there are a few who go well beyond a cup of coffee or a kind word to honor our United States veterans. The volunteers who give their time and energy to the Let’s Go Fishing (LGF) organization are among those who go the extra mile to honor our veterans, as well as serve the elderly and handicapped in their communities. Full story at Mercury Mercury Dockline Blog…
CoronaVirus Hits Let’s Go Fishing
Acting on advice from the Centers for Disease Control (canceling events for gatherings of 250 or more people), the Let’s Go Fishing Eden Prairie chapter cut bait and postponed last Saturday’s fish fry fundraiser, the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
On Sunday, the CDC recommended canceling or postponing in-person events that consist of 50 or more people for at least the next eight weeks.
“It’s disappointing,” said Let’s Go Fishing Eden Prairie President Steve Wilson, “but understandable. What can you do?”
“We put a note on our Facebook page,” said Wilson. “We sold it at our cost. The fish was gone by 11:15, the potato salad by 12:15.”
Non-perishable supplies, including the oil for fish frying, will be stowed away for what Wilson hopes will be a future fish fry in late May or early June.
“It’s a problem if it doesn’t happen,” said Wilson. “Our boats (pontoons) are paid off, but its costs about $16,000 to run the program per year. That’s with 100% of what we bring in going into the program. We’re run by volunteers and no one takes a salary.”
Last year, Let’s Go Fishing Eden Prairie counted 350 trips. Read the full story here…
Let’s Go Fishing not letting virus sink its season
The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing Let’s Go Fishing of Willmar to cancel its spring fundraiser and delay its launch of the 2020 season. The volunteers still remain committed to hosting seniors on the water this summer, and are looking for public support to continue the good work
Let’s Go Fishing of Willmar isn’t going to let the COVID-19 pandemic sink its season, but it is canceling its spring fundraiser and the May trips for local students. Volunteers and students from the Prairie Woods Elementary School are shown on Green Lake in this Tribune file photo from May 2018. Tom Cherveny / West Central Tribune file photo
WILLMAR — Let’s Go Fishing Willmar has no intentions of letting the coronavirus COVID-19 sink it’s 2020 season, but it will be delaying its launching date this year.
Rick Reimer, chapter president, said Let’s Go Fishing is postponing its annual spring fundraising event as well as the season’s launch due to the pandemic. The local chapter is hoping it can get its pontoons on the water for the first outings on Monday, June 1.
Until then, the organization is also hoping the public and the group’s many sponsors will continue to step up and help make sure the organization can continue to serve the area.
It costs about $15,000 to operate the local program each year, according to Steve Wilson, board secretary for Let’s Go Fishing. Absent the fundraiser, he and members are hoping supporters will consider contributions and that sponsors will come on board to make the 2020 season possible.
Even with a late start, the organization incurs expenses for the storage of the pontoons and materials, as well as everything from insurance to office materials. Those costs are there no matter, noted Reimer. Read the full article here at the West Central Tribune…