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the lunch hours, they also held a fundraiser so anyone who got
hungry perusing the vendors could stop for a meal or a snack. The
lunch fundraiser is one of several fundraisers that the Oasis holds
throughout the year to support the senior center. The Oasis is one
of very few senior centers in Illinois that is fully supported by
fundraisers, donations, and grants with no monetary support coming
from the government. Saturday’s lunch offered pulled pork, cole
slaw, and chips, as well as popcorn and shaved ice.
Oasis members sold the food inside their building and at the shed
behind the center, where a covered seating area was set up and
musician Chris Carillo entertained the audience, playing many songs
with a connection to Abraham Lincoln. Carillo played a hammer
dulcimer, a dobro, and several other traditional instruments
performing heritage and roots music from the Midwest. Carillo
performed courtesy of the Oasis and the National Railsplitter
Festival, where he will perform again at the Postville courthouse
the weekend of September 21 and 22.
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Also on Saturday, 56 vendors from all over the area
lined the walking track at the back of the Oasis. A variety of
merchandise was available for sale, everything from jewelry to
crocheted toys to books and woodworking. Oasis Director Krista
Miller said, “It’s a great day with great weather! We have had great
community support. We appreciate all the love and support from the
community.” The Oasis served the balloon pilots breakfast early
Saturday morning, and overall had 40 volunteers helping with all the
activities happening that day. Miller declared, “It’s a great day
for the community and the whole town.”
[Stephanie Hall] |
