Kiwanis Burgerfest raises more than $1,300 for charity
Photo by Jennifer McBride -- Esteban Barahona, three, takes a big bite out of his first-ever buffalo burger at the annual Kiwanis Burgerfest Feb. 12. He described it as "not yucky."
By Jennifer McBride / Leader Staff
Three-year-old Esteban Barahona had never had a buffalo burger before, but at the Kiwanis Burgerfest in Polson last week, he joined dozens of other people in gobbling down meat for charity. The annual Burgerfest pulled in over $1,300 for charity children's projects this year, according to an estimate by Kiwanis club secretary and treasurer Margie Carlton.
"That's terrific, because we have two $700 scholarships we offer to seniors at Polson High School, and that pretty much covers it," Carlton said.
The Kiwanis club has raised money for a variety of projects for local kids. In the past, Carlton explained, some of their donations have gone to the Polson Library, the Food Bank, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Boy Scouts and the Ronan High School yearbook. Kiwanis has also raised $1,250 for band instruments for underprivileged children, which they gave to Polson Middle School.
The Burgerfest, which Carlton said is one of the Kiwanis club's biggest fundraisers, charged $8 a ticket and drew over 100 eager eaters. While the Kiwanis club members didn't hunt the buffalos for the burgers, they did chop the tomatoes and bake the pies. Carlton said each member was asked to bring two pies apiece. Extra food went to one of the group homes run by Mission Mountain Enterprises.
"They were pretty excited to get the leftover pies," Carlton said.
The Kiwanis club meets every Thursday at noon at the KwaTaqNuk.