This weekend marks the seventh annual Red Letter Festival. The Red Letter Festival is a community initiated festival that was created to raise money and awareness for domestic violence, poverty and homelessness in the northwest Iowa area.
Proceeds from this weekend will go to The Bridge. The Bridge is a non-profit, faith-based transitional housing program for women of Sioux County. It is a safe place from a variety of harmful situations including domestic and substance abuse, beginnings of probation or just a home for those in need.
The money will help them purchase a new van. The goal is to raise $5,000. The van is vital to their ministry. Not only does it aid in the transportation of women to medical visits, schooling and jobs, it is also a way for women and children to get to The Bridge if they are in need of a place to stay.
Kicking the festival off is Bella Ruse, an airy folk group who are no strangers to the Northwestern crowd. They performed last night at the Old Factory Coffee Shop. Tonight is NW’s Black V improv team will also perform at the Old Factory at 8 p.m. Donations are encouraged.
Saturday, the main day of the festival, is jam-packed with activity. The Festival begins at 12:45 p.m. at Windmill Park with an afternoon bicycle ride. Riders will depart at 1 p.m. and ride for an hour. The fundraising goal is $50 per cyclist. Contact Ryan Anderson if interested in riding. From 2–10 p.m. vendors will be selling food. Local musicians and poets will be performing and art will be on display.
One of the many events on Saturday will be a silent art auction. Students and faculty of NW, as well as community members, are encouraged to donate their art. There are several drop-off points around town for art: the art building, the Old Factory and The Bridge. Or, bring your submissions to the festival with you. Make sure to include your name, the name of your piece, the art medium, a minimum bid and your e-mail address.
The Bridge provides food, hygiene supplies, clothing, medical attention, job opportunities and childcare. All of their supplies are given through donations by churches, small organizations or individuals.
For the women willing to make a positive change in their lives, The Bridge offers life-skill classes. While community speakers are brought in to teach, they also partner with Love Inc. in Sheldon for longer term classes like budgeting.
Therapy sessions are also available for women and children who have a history of abuse or are dealing with personal problems. Bible studies are frequent and focused on loving holistically and living a full life, both spiritually and materially.
“The Bridge peels back the mask that there’s nothing wrong in Sioux County,” said Direct Care Coordinator Charlotte Richards. “It’s a way to bring up issues that don’t get talked about. Poverty is everywhere and it looks different.”
Being aware of what is going on in the community is important. Learning about and appreciating people’s stories is a way to help them move forward. The Bridge seeks to share the love of Christ through educating and helping.
“It’s heading in a good direction,” Richards said. “But there’s much more to be done.”
The Bridge is only one of the many non-profit organizations in the Orange City area. The hope is that the Red Letter Festival will help people to know Orange City better and to see where they can help those in need around their own home.
“There are lots of great opportunities to be connected to the community,” said Aaron DeBoer, the Art Show Coordinator for this year’s Festival. “People should come to support The Bridge and to better understand what it does.”
The awareness raised by the Red Letter Festival will be accompanied by what has made it great for the past seven years: good music, beautiful art, delicious food and educating conversation.
