Having Fun Raising Funds

Just when you think you've seen all the fund-raising options out there (silent auction, anyone?), along comes something creative that makes you say, "Why didn't I think of that?" * In my opinion, All Saints Episcopal Church in Southern Shores wins the prize for the most creative fund-raiser on the Outer Banks with its After Dark @ All Saints series of classes....

Here's how it works: Members of the community volunteer their time and talents to teach a class in their personal field of expertise, from wine tasting to cooking to jewelry making to computers to line dancing. People in the community pay about $20 to take these classes, filling up a few winter hours and learning about something new. All of the money raised goes to charity...

All Saints borrowed the idea from St. Patrick's School in Norfolk and brought it to the Outer Banks two years ago. 2012 is their third annual event, and they've got 54 classes taught by some of the most well-known names on the Outer Banks. Chef Sam McGann giving the secrets of The Blue Point kitchen. Chef Scott Foster of Coastal Provisions cooking simple Chinese dishes. Jeff Lewis teaching about birding. Mark Buckler teaching about digital photography. Katy Caroline, John de la Vega and Jim Bickford giving painting lessons. Fran Peel showing how to wrap sea glass. Deb Kasten teaching people how to manipulate marionettes. Jamie Layton giving tips on building a better book club. * And there's a lot more, from yoga to dog training to gardening to tips for living healthier...

Last year After Dark's 45 classes raised $8,000 for four local charities - Food for Thought, Interfaith Community Outreach, Community Care Clinic of Dare and Room in the Inn. This year they hope to raise even more for the same four charities...

Classes are running from January 30 through February 16, but I'm telling you this now because this is a case where planning ahead will pay off. Some classes are filling up and space is limited. Cost is about $20 per class, but some classes may have an extra fee to cover expenses and materials. You can see the full list of classes here. To register, email allsaints@allsaints-eastcarolina.org, call (252) 261-6674 or stop by the church office at 40 Pintail Drive in Southern Shores. Payment is required by cash or check to secure your reservation so it's almost easier to stop by the office. * I hope you can make a class. I'm hoping that the Rhone Valley Wines and Baklava classes aren't full. I better call right now...

Here are a couple other things that you need to plan ahead for:

The Outer Banks Hospital's Flights of Fancy Gala on Saturday, January 21. This year the theme is Antarctica. It's a fun night at the Wright Brothers National Memorial pavilion and all proceeds go to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases on the Outer Banks. Call (252) 449-9184 if you want info or tickets...

Also, Ashtanga Yoga Center of the Outer Banks is having a five-day Winter Yoga Retreat from January 19 to 23. If you think you'd be interested in a five-day retreat or just a relaxing weekend of yoga, check out the link...

Now, here's what's happening this week:

Outer Banks Running Club has its Frostbite 5K on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. This is a membership run, so if you participate, you're a running club member for the year. Registration is onsite only at this point, so just show up at the KDH Skate Park off Veteran's Drive (across from First Flight High School) before 9 and hope that you can get a spot. See you there! It's supposed to still be unseasonably warm on Saturday...

Monday is an official holiday for MLK Jr. Day (so there's no school, by the way). If you're not taking off to go skiing, here are some things you can do:

A Martin Luther King Celebration and Luncheon is being held on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Dare Center in Manteo. * The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is offering free admission on Monday - as long as you bring a donation to the food pantry. They're also showing Rescue Men, the documentary about the Pea Island Life Savers on Monday at 1:30 p.m. * The Wright Brothers National Memorial is offering free admission on Saturday, Sunday and Monday in honor of the holiday. * On Tuesday you can see a documentary called Standing on My Sisters' Shoulders at Kelly's. The OBX Peace and Justice Interfaith Coalition is showing this one. It's a story of some women in Mississippi who fought for Civil Rights and changed the course of American history. It starts at 7 p.m....

Also on Tuesday is the Currituck Heritage Park Winter Educational Series "Corolla in Retrospect." On Tuesday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. different speakers will discuss the ocean side of Corolla, from Life-Saving Stations to German U-boats to today's coastal issues. A trip to Wash Woods Life-Saving Station is also planned. Go to www.whaleheadclub.org for info...

There's other good stuff going on too. Go to our By Day or By Night sections to see it all...

And before I go, did you hear this good news? Bodie Island Lighthouse is all set for repairs to resume.That means that sometime in the near future, we'll be climbing this lighthouse too!...

So what will you be doing this week on the Outer Banks? Hope to see you out there somewhere...