Belgrave’s Little Hendrix Cafe is once again rallying the community for a fun-filled fundraising event to support two vital local organisations – the CFA and the Belgrave Traders Association (BTA).
The event will take place on Friday, 15 August, across from the CFA, and promises to be an action-packed evening, with plenty of activities for the whole family.
The event follows the success of Little Hendrix’s previous fundraisers, such as the Lantern Parade fundraiser that raised $5.2k for the event.
Little Hendrix Cafe chef and owner, Alex Palmer said these events have grown organically over time.
“We’ve seen how much people love coming together for these nights, and it’s become a way for us to fundraise and give back to our community,” Mr Palmer said.
“The support for events like Halloween, Christmas decorations, and the Lantern Parade is crucial to keeping Belgrave the magical place it is.”
This time, the focus is on raising funds for two very important causes – the CFA, who are always there in times of need, and the BTA, whose initiatives support the community year-round.
“The CFA are absolute champions, everyone knows the hard work they do every day, and we want to ensure they have the support they need to continue serving our community,” he said.
Belgrave CFA’s community safety coordinator Bryce Mazzarella said events like this are invaluable.
“It’s great to have the local community reach out to us like this,” he said.
“It helps us acquire additional tools and equipment, which allow us to work more efficiently. While we are still able to protect the community, fundraising like this allows us to improve our service.”
Mr Mazzarella said without community support, the CFA would still function, but things like repairs and upgrades to their fire trucks wouldn’t be possible without funds from local efforts.
Belgrave Traders Association vice president, Jeremy Angerson expressed his gratitude for the continued support from local businesses like Little Hendrix.
“The events we hold, like the Lantern Parade, rely heavily on fundraising to cover costs like road closures, insurance, and artist fees,” Mr Angerson said.
“It’s crucial for the survival of our townships to have initiatives like this one to ensure our community stays connected, creative, and alive.”
Mr Angerson also emphasised the importance of community gatherings in encouraging the unique, close-knit vibe that Belgrave is known for.
The evening will feature CFA fire trucks for the kids, an indoor playground, live music, and, of course, plenty of pizza.
Mr Palmer said he’s excited about the family-friendly atmosphere, especially for the children who will have the chance to see cooking in action.
“It’s always a blast to cook pizza in front of the kids. It’s something most of them don’t see every day, so it’s a really fun experience for everyone,” he said.
One of the most special aspects of the event is its inclusive nature, entry is by donation, so everyone is encouraged to come, regardless of their financial situation.
“Even if people can’t afford to donate, we still want them to come along,” Mr Palmer said.
“We’ll cook them dinner, no questions asked.”
Other local businesses are also pitching in, with Blacksmith donating vegan chilli and Bills of Belgrave contributing sausages.
Mr Palmer said that initiatives like this highlight the strong spirit of collaboration that truly defines the Belgrave community.
For those who can’t make it on the day but still want to contribute, donations can be made via Instagram, with all proceeds going directly to the CFA and BTA.
“We really just want to thank the community for their continuous support, it’s what keeps us going, and we’re so proud to be part of such a generous, caring town,” he said.
“We can’t change the world, but we can definitely change our little local world. And that’s what we’re all about.”
The Belgrave Community Pizza Night promises to be another fantastic example of what makes this town so special – where community, care, and a bit of fun come together for a good cause.
