Successful Fundraiser, a Good Time and a Good Cause

OSFR president Kristin Rubin reports on the fundraiser on Saturday, September 11, 2021 in Gainesville:

There was a great turnout at the Save the Soul of the Santa Fe River fundraiser concert Sat. evening at the Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville.  The evening was pleasant with cooling temperatures and light breezes.  The event was sponsored by the Florida Springs Council to raise funds for legal challenges to the infamous Seven Springs water permit which sells water to BlueTriton (ex Nestle) at Ginnie Springs.

Usually we need children to come to a booth that is about water conservation, but that was not the case Saturday evening. There were people in their late teens to their 70’s and enough board members from the past and the present to hold a meeting and everyone there were people who supported the Florida Springs Council and in turn, the environment.

We had a robust presence at the concert with nonstop concerns voiced and lively conversation about bottled water,  water withdrawals and the erosion to the Santa Fe River from motor boats and jet skis.

There were plenty of people who drank tap water that was FREE from the cooler in paper cups, no plastic bottles. We had reusable metal bottles for $5.00. It was our pleasure to serve and we have free water to drink at all our tabling events.

FSC featured  a chance to win  a paddle board donated by iRocker SUPs, which will be awarded on Oct. 25. Tickets may still be purchased at their website at this link.

Not to be outdone, OSFR’s headquarters business, Rum 138, donated two free kayak rentals which was won by Stephanie Chill.  We thank Rum 138 for their continued generous help with our mission.  The monies received from the kayak rental donations and the reusable metal water bottle will be donated to FSC for their legal fund.

Thanks to Merrillee for her great display to remind us to use tap water to avoid polluting with all those plastic bottles that were at the bottom of  the water faucet display. 

Thanks to Brenda Wells’ husband, Houston, for all his help setting up, David Vaina and Jim Tatum for answering the concert goers concerns, questions and explanations regarding FL5.org. There were about 40 petitions signed for The Right to Clean Water.

Thanks also goes to the Florida Springs Council for inviting us as we are all in this together and support one another, besides, who can say no to great music under the stars?

To visit and volunteer with OSFR at Lubee’s Bat Festival Oct. 23, contact Kristin Rubin at kristin.rubin@oursantaferiver.org for more details.