With COVID-19 restrictions still in place, many organizations are finding creative ways to run their annual fundraisers.

Cindi Rempel Patrick is the Director of Development for the Steinbach Arts Council. She says normally they would open their doors to the public for the Corks N' Canvas fundraiser, fill their studios with wine and representatives from different wine companies, serve hors d'oeuvres and enjoy local art together. They did things a little differently this past Friday.

"15 hosts throughout the community, they have opened their homes and we sold tickets to their guests so they all will have their bubble of guests in their homes who have purchased tickets and we will deliver the wine, we will deliver the hors d'oeuvres, we will even deliver some artwork from local artists. Then they will have a mini wine tasting in their home."

Meanwhile, over at the Mennonite Heritage Village, they are still planning to hold their annual fall supper fundraiser in the MHV auditorium. That said, Executive Director Gary Dyck says they would normally have 200 guests, but that just won't be possible this fall.

"This year we are doing a hybrid actually which is I think fairly unique. We are doing an on-site banquet, a limit of 50 people and those tickets sold out very quickly and then we are also offering the delivery of a meal-kit to your door and then we are going to have an event happening in the auditorium but also streaming it so the people at home can also watch the live-stream with the rest of the group."

Dyck says they have also started a Kickstarter campaign to safely raise money for a peace garden near their pond.

The Ste. Anne Hospital Fund has gone completely virtual. Natasha Penner is the Executive Director and she notes their annual Lobsterfest Gala planned for the middle of October will also include a delivery service.

"We are doing a virtual gala and we are also selling boxes of Lobsters so that people can prepare lobster at home. It is actually quite simple. It is just a matter of steaming it to warm it up and then you can enjoy it with your family as you join us for the virtual gala."

Penner notes you don't have to buy a box of lobster to join the virtual event on Youtube.