Putting the fun in fundraising

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/01/2022 (1707 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Lisa Webinger has the hashtag #CommunityCheer in her Twitter bio, and she certainly embodies the sentiment.

Last month, Webinger led a successful campaign that raised around $4,000 in toys, hygiene products, winter clothing and non-perishable food items for Thrive Community Support Circle, a resource centre on Spence Street.

It was the latest in a string of charitable initiatives Webinger has spearheaded to benefit a variety of Winnipeg organizations. All told, the 42-year-old Transcona resident estimates she has helped raise around $250,000 in cash, food and toys over the years.

“It’s almost like a rush,” Webinger says. “It energizes me just knowing people will benefit.”

In 2012, Webinger learned $3.11 would pay for an individual Christmas meal at Siloam Mission. She created the 31 Days of Christmas Cheer campaign with the goal of raising money for 311 meals in one month. Webinger used social media to get the word out and by the time it was over, she had raised enough funds for more than 850 meals.

Two years later, London Drugs was promoting Five Hole for Food, a non-profit that uses hockey to raise donations for food banks. Webinger dared the pharmacy to raise more food than she could, creating a fun rivalry. Using the hashtag #FillMyFord, Webinger brought in hundreds of pounds in food donations that filled her SUV from front to back.

The Transcona Food Bank, Health Sciences Centre Foundation and Plessis Community Family Resource Centre are a few of the other organizations Webinger has supported over the years.

“I’m constantly looking for who needs help and trying to fill the gap as needed,” she says.

In 2015, Webinger provided more than 150 backpacks filled with hygiene items to people in Winnipeg experiencing homelessness. Last year, she raised enough money to buy 450 sleeping bags and 150 outdoor survival kits for Main Street Project.

A number of Webinger’s fundraisers have incorporated flamingos, an animal she jokingly refers to as “the national bird of Transcona.” She has raised money for CancerCare Manitoba and the Manitoba Motorcycle Ride for Dad through “flockings.” In exchange for donations, she covers lawns with some of the nine dozen plastic flamingos she keeps in her garage.

“When you make (fundraising) more fun, people want to get involved,” Webinger says. “If you can make someone smile and laugh and do a good deed at the same time, why not?”

She attributes her fundraising successes over the years to making donating accessible for everyone.

“It doesn’t have to be $100, $200 or $1,000. You can make a $5 donation and make a difference,” she says. “Every little bit adds up.”

Webinger’s many contributions to the community were recognized in 2016, when she received the Premier’s Volunteer Service Award at Volunteer Manitoba’s 33rd annual awards.

Jodi Moskal, Webinger’s friend, nominated her because she wanted to see Webinger’s leadership, originality and passion for the community acknowledged.

“Lisa is a ball of energy with a heart of gold,” Moskal says. “She’s helped a lot of people and the city is better off with her in it.”

Webinger says fundraising comes naturally to her and it’s a way for her to express her creativity.

“I’m just glad I’m in a position where I can do this,” she says. “I really, really enjoy it.”

If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com