Islanders Talk, the popular Facebook group for Island news, recently hosted a Bake-Off and Bake Sale to benefit the Islanders Talk Benevolent Fund, a fund created to help Islanders in need. The event also included a silent auction, and according to Lori Robinson Fisher, one of the group’s administrators, the event raised $2,111. Auction items from local businesses included a rug from Parker Carpet, jewelry from Diane Whittier of Renaissance d’Zines, services provided by David Welch Photography and an after-work appetizer from the Loft, among many others.
The Islanders Talk Benevolent Fund was created last year with the initial goal of raising $15,000 by asking each member of the then 3,000 members of the Facebook group to donate $5. The money raised could then be available to fellow Islanders in times of crisis. To date, the group has raised just over $11,000, and boasts 5,400 members.
“The whole idea of Islanders Talk Benevolent Fund is ‘Islanders helping Islanders.’ We are trying to help Islanders in tough situations who are in real need of assistance. We don’t give cash to anyone … instead we will do gift certificates for what is needed, or if someone is in real need of having a bill paid, if approved by the committee, we will pay the bill directly. We want to make sure everyone has their holiday meals, etc.,” said Ms. Fisher.
You can donate to the Islanders Talk Benevolent Fund (ITBF) by dropping off a check or cash at any Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank branch and specify that it is to go to the Islanders Talk Benevolent Fund, or by mailing a check to: ITBF, P.O. Box 16, West Tisbury, MA 02575. To learn more about Islanders Talk, join the group on Facebook.
