What affects one, affects all. That’s how Big Pine fire survivor fundraiser Tina Bowlan put it. She and others organized a bigpinefundraisermasterful fundraising dinner Saturday night that raised between $14,000 and $16,000 for the Big Pine fire victims.

Bowlan is one of a team of three women who devised the fundraiser. Kim McCormick and Kelly Piper, along with Tina Bowlan, brought together a spaghetti and meatball dinner, raffle prizes and an attendance by nearly 700 people in the Charles Brown Auditorium Saturday in Bishop.

Some of the fire victims were there and hundreds of local people came out to support those who literally lost everything. The evening’s activities added up to 100% profit for the victims. The Fairgrounds waived fees for the fundraiser, Vons donated the food and Ceci and Jeff Potter donated the meatballs. High Sierra Distributors, Eastern Sierra Wholesale and Gillespie Distributing donated the drinks. The group, No Parking, entertained.

Bowlan said the amount of support from the community was amazing. She said we may have horrible economic times but you couldn’t tell by the turn-out Saturday. “One of the blessings of a small town,” she said, “is what affects one, affects all.”

Meanwhile, at the Big Pine Methodist Church, the donations of clothing and household items continues and victims are starting to come back for more help. So, Reverend Karen Moore said the church would once more open its doors as a kind of supply central for fire victims.

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