The German Club is on a fundraising campaign to help complete a major repair on the roof of their longtime club house. The German Club opened in 1968, creating a gathering space for those with German ancestry. Since then, the club has welcomed people of all backgrounds to experience German cuisine and culture. A leak from the roof was discovered in the spring, with repairs estimated over $200,000. “We are looking to our members, the public, people who care about this place, to reach out and help,” said Kerri Van Loosen, the president of the German-Canadian Society. Van Loosen said volunteering, attending, or booking events at the venue also helps in the overall cost of the repair. The German Club is open four days a week, offering German foods and drinks. Local groups and clubs also use the space regularly to meet up and connect. Lauren Straub is a supporter of the German Club. She drops by on occasion for the authentic foods. “I do feel like community is so important. Wherever we can find community, whether it is just like-minded people wanting to have a good time together,” she said. The German Club is still feeling the impacts from the pandemic. Social groups who rented the space have not returned. These losses have shortened their revenue. “We never officially bounced back. We lost a lot of our extracurricular groups. They never made their way back. That extra revenue has hurt us,” Van Loosen explained. The German Club has also felt the waves of the economy. Straub said supporting local businesses right now is important. “Places like this, especially one that’s so historic like the German Club and the building is incredible,” she said. “All the passion and love that has gone into running it over the years. It’s super important to keep supporting.” There are a few fundraising initiatives the German Club is now doing. This includes bake sales and online 50/50’s. Also, a large percentage of any revenue made from their annual events will go towards the roof repair. The German Club is also in the midst of applying for charity status to get access to grants for the repair. “If we didn’t have the community and the people to support us over the years, this club would have shut its doors in the 1980s,” Van Loosen said. “We love hearing positive feedback, it really keeps us motivated. It feels like our efforts are worth something.”
