ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Mardi Gras came early to Elk Grove on Saturday, Feb. 8. 

One hundred and twenty members of the Elk Grove community gathered to help raise funds for a local nonprofit that helps the Elk Grove community in a Mardi Gras-style event at Elk Grove Regional Park Pavilion. 

The event was presented by Uplift People of Elk Grove, a nonprofit organization designed to break the cycle of poverty in the Elk Grove community.

Mark Hedlund, the president of Uplift, said that like many nonprofits, Uplift has various ways to raise money, such as an Oktoberfest fundraiser and “Sound of the Season” during the Christmas season. 

Hedlund said that the Mardi Gras theme came about when Uplift wanted to do something different than what other nonprofits do, like crab feeds and “beef and reef” events.

“We tried to come up with something unique and we came up with the Mardi Gras theme,” Hedlund said. “Our first year was very successful, and now we’re in our third year and people look forward to it. It’s a good party.”

Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday, is held every year the day before Lent, on Ash Wednesday. In the United States, the festival is mostly associated with New Orleans,  in which revelers enjoy their last celebration before the fasting season of Lent begins. The event will land on March 4 this year. 

The pavilion was decorated to resemble the famous Bourbon Street in New Orleans, including the traditional fleur-de-lis symbol, and bead necklaces for attendees to hang around their necks to correlate with the event’s theme.

To coincide with the event’s theme, the DJ played “When the Saints Go Marching in.”

Kathi Goldsberry, vice president of Uplift, said that the Mardi Gras event is “their most wonderful fundraiser” because it serves the community. 

The funds that this event raises go toward Uplift’s weekly meetings and toward salaries for their employees.

Goldsberry said that there are plenty of “great stories” of Uplift helping the community.

“We have so many great stories that go back eight years ago when this organization started of people who have been on the edge of issues going forward and they have been doing wonderfully now,” Goldsberry said. “They have made progress in finding jobs, housing and also ways to survive and succeed.”

This event had a dinner prepared by the Pride of Laguna Lions Club, and it was served by members of the Rosemont High School baseball team. It also hosted some activities such as a trivia contest, costume contest and two silent auctions for desserts, as well as baskets, appliances and artwork.

Uplift also helped some people who participated in this event. 

Attendee DeeDee Nishimura said that Uplift helped her when she had trouble finding housing and needed support. In that time, she found a temporary living situation where she was the house mom.

“My friend told me about Uplift and over time being with the program, I said, ‘I’m going back to work’ after eight years of not working,” Nishimura said. “Uplift’s support gave me the courage and strength to go back to work.”

Elk Grove resident Samantha O’Quinn said she was also helped by the nonprofit. O’Quinn said that Uplift has helped many people in the community, including herself and her 8-year-old daughter. 

She said she helped with setting up the event and helped organize some of the activities, but noted she was also there to have fun at the “lively” event.

“I think Uplift is an amazing program and that anybody who is interested should look into it,” O’Quinn said.