The Vicksburg Vision Campaign will host its first public fundraising event on Friday, November 20, at the new Vicksburg Cultural and Arts Center, 200 S. Main Street in Vicksburg. The event, titled “It Takes a Village to Feed a Village” will take place from 5 to 7 p.m.
It will be open to the public and feature small plates from local food vendors. Cost of entrance will be one canned good per person. These canned goods will be donated to local foodbanks. Attendees of the fundraising event will be asked to make a donation in exchange for small plates at each food station. The event will also feature a silent auction with a myriad of items from local merchants and establishments. No RSVP’s are necessary. All funds raised will be donated to the Vicksburg Vision Campaign. The event is the first of many to benefit the cause.
The Vicksburg Vision Campaign is a combined effort of the Vicksburg Downtown Development Authority and the village of Vicksburg. The capital campaign will fund the construction of a new nature trail system; enhancements to area parks; expansion and improvements to public parking for easy access to the downtown district; and updates to streetscapes with new sidewalks, trees, flower planters, and seating. In addition to substantial grants, the campaign will need the help of the public and local organizations to create matching funds for these projects. This fundraising event is one way that individuals can help out.
The goal for the Vicksburg Vision Campaign is $2.7 million dollars which will fund projects totaling $7.3 million. For this year, the campaign will need to raise at least $1 million dollars by November 30 to match the trail grants. Mary Ruple, community chairperson for the Vicksburg Vision Campaign, is excited about the event and explains its importance, “Since we do need to meet our first goal on the 30th of November, donations and the community’s participation at this event is needed and would be greatly appreciated.”