SHELBURNE FALLS — Earlier this fall, Deerfield River Watershed Trout Unlimited began a trout study, believed to be the first of its kind in the country, said chapter president Michael Vito.
On Monday, the local chapter will kick off an eight-day fundraiser to raise money for that research and other projects designed to help the Deerfield River and its tributaries.
Starting at 6 p.m. at Floodwater Brewing Co., local chapter volunteers will fire up a grill to serve free hot dogs and bratwurst. Inside the brewery, the online fundraising challenge will begin, Vito said.
The fundraiser will last from Monday through Nov. 11, and will pit Deerfield River Watershed Trout Unlimited against other chapters nationwide. Matching gifts will be given by the national chapter (Trout Unlimited) and by Orvis, a fly-fishing company whose Vermont headquarters are at the origin of the Deerfield River, Vito said.
“It’s an online challenge,” he said, meaning that for the chapter to receive matching gifts, all donations must be made online.
“At (Monday’s) party, we’re going to be texting and emailing our friends with the link to (our chapter’s) challenge page and they can donate to our chapter,” he said.
Last year, the local chapter had a similar fundraiser with a celebratory mood.
“Every time someone gets (a donation), they put their phone up and people cheer for them,” Vito said. “It’s all so fun.”
Throughout last year’s fundraiser, the local chapter raised around $24,000, Vito said, which included bonus donations for daily challenge categories, like “most $10 donations” or “most money raised in one day.”
To be eligible for this eight-day fundraiser, Deerfield River Watershed Trout Unlimited won a preliminary grant of $2,500 from its national organization, Trout Unlimited.
Vito said that the Franklin County chapter, at around 120 members, is small but mighty.
“We’re one of the smallest (chapters) in the country,” he said, adding that its success over the past few years has been a model for other chapters around the country.
For Vito, fundraising will allow the chapter to continue its stewardship of the Deerfield River.
“I think that’s our role,” he said. “We watch (the river). We can see when things are happening.”
Reach Maureen O’Reilly at 413-772-0261, ext. 280 or moreilly@recorder.com.