Eyes that see the good in things: Dec. 3, 2018

Every year at this time, I am amazed at the amounts of money raised for charities during this annual season of giving. I’ll admit that I’m a bit of a strange bird when it comes to these kinds of fundraisers. Growing up, the Jerry Lewis Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy certainly fostered my interest in fundraisers.

Even so, I’m a little surprised that I never clicked on the announcement my college friend makes every year about the annual RDO Caters Taters for Charity. As a longtime employee of RD Offutt Company, the hours she has put nto this event make it one that is near and dear to her heart.

This year I finally clicked on the announcement and learned a little more about an event that has raised a great deal of money for various charities in its 19-year lifespan. RDO Caters Taters for Charity is a potato luncheon held each fall in Fargo that donates all the proceeds generated at their event to a different local charity each year. Eventgoer enjoy a delicious lunch featuring a ‘pound-tato’— a one-pound baked potato with choice of a variety of tasty toppings, a beverage and dessert. What made them choose potatoes for their fundraiser? R.D. Offutt Company is one of the largest potato growers in the nation and provides the one-pound potatoes.

RDO Caters Taters for Charity has raised more than $580,000 for local charities including American Cancer Society, Make-A-Wish of North Dakota, Hospice of the Red River Valley, Sanford Children’s Hospital, Special Olympics North Dakota, Project Ignite Light, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Anne Carlsen Center - Fargo, YWCA Cass Clay and most recently, CCRI Inc.

As I looked through the sponsors for this charity event, I saw how they were able to donate 100 percent of the proceeds to the charity of their choice. For example, this year the sponsor partners even include the venue itself, provided by The Delta Hotels by Marriott in Fargo, now in its second year of sponsorship. All the graphics shared on the event’s website, Facebook page and Instagram are designed by Red River Valley Design. Event tickets and raffle tickets are printed and provided by J&M Printing.

Many community members hear about the event through interviews and promotions from radio partner, KFGO, who also broadcasts live from the event. Guest are welcomed into the space and directed throughout with banners and other signage, courtesy of Signs 4 Work. Because RDO Caters Taters is a little bit different every year, Dan Francis Photography captures images that are shared with the charity and community.

This year’s recipient reaches right into our community. The thank you from the event planner starts out with this message, “Because of you, the 19th annual RDO CatersTaters for Charity was a great event. Because of you, a record-breaking $83,333 was raised for Great Plains Food Bank. Because of you, those who struggle with hunger will have access to nutritious food this holiday season and beyond. RDO Caters Taters and Great Plains Food Bank thank YOU for your generosity and support this year.”

Every dollar generated by this event goes to the Great Plains Food Bank and each dollar given to the Great Plains Food Bank will provide three meals. For every $5 bag of potatoes purchased, 15 meals were provided. Every $8 lunch ticket provided 24 meals. Every $10 raffle ticket purchased provided 30 meals.

The event planners concede that the best part of RDO Caters Taters is perhaps the food. The event’s famous pound-tatoes are hauled from one of R.D. Offutt Farms’ locations more than 400 miles away, thanks to FedEx. Bacon bits are donated by Hormel Foods, while the shredded cheese comes all the way from the west coast, donated by Tillamook. Other tater toppings include chili, made and donated by Eurest, buffalo chicken, made and donated by Delta Hotels by Marriott Fargo, and salsa, donated by Sysco. While the potato is the star of the event, a beverage and dessert complete the meal. Coca Cola Bottling Company High Country donates a variety of soda, while Costco provides giant cookies.

Cole Papers provides cutlery packs and to-go containers, ensuring guests enjoy lunch whether dining in or taking out. Additional food preparation supplies are provided courtesy of retailers Staples and Target.  

Because of these generous donations from product partners, RDO Caters Taters is able to give 100 percent of proceeds – every potato enjoyed, every ticket sold, and every dollar raised – to Great Plains Food Bank.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be chosen as the benefiting charity of the 2018 RDO Caters Taters for Charity,” said Great Plains Food Bank CEO Steve Sellent. “This event has done amazing things for worthy charities in our community, and the Great Plains Food Bank thanks RDO for joining in our fight to end hunger. Proceeds from this event will be crucial for families, children, and seniors across North Dakota and western Minnesota that struggle with hunger each day.”

The Great Plains Food Bank’s mission is to end hunger in North Dakota and western Minnesota through community partnerships. It is the largest hunger-relief organization in North Dakota and serves as the state’s only food bank. Each year, the Great Plains Food Bank touches the lives of 1 in 9 individuals who seek emergency food assistance.

I’m glad that my friend’s annual Facebook posts finally drew me in and made me look at this event in a new way, as the generosity of individuals and sponsors ripple its way across the state. I get to understand and share in her enthusiasm as she posts, “I can’t believe we keep breaking the record every year!!! A record-breaking $83,333 was raised for Great Plains Food Bank, which will provide about 250,000 meals for people in need of emergency food assistance.”

I learned a lot about an event that I had seen advertised, one that I thought had a cute name for a little fundraiser. It turns out the little fundraiser with the cute name isn’t so little after all.

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