The Sunshine League Children?s Home have come up with inventive new ways to raise funds for the organisation.

Events include a roll sale, a speed dating event entitled Fast Impressions, a golf tournament, and the annual moonlit walk.

The Sunshine League Children?s Home houses many of Bermuda?s foster children who are aged between eight and 16.

During an interview with , Denise Carey, executive director of the Sunshine League said:

?We have a special events committee so we branch out to do the special events?

The roll sale and speed dating events take place just after Heritage Day, she explained.

?Fast Impressions, the speed dating event, will be held at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute on May 26,? said Ms Carey.

?The cost for participants is $35 and that includes dinner. Salsa Sabor Latin Dance School will be doing a display and then there is a DJ for dancing afterwards.

?We have had a great response and we?ve actually sold out on the tickets for the ladies, but we still need have a few more spaces for men,? Ms Carey explained.

?Women can still come to the event, but they can participate in all the other activities like socialising and dancing. It promises to be wonderful and everyone is really excited about it.?

The roll sale event is being put on by the food service co-ordinator Jean Outerbridge and staff.

?Ms Outerbridge sold hot cross buns and fishcakes for Good Friday and the staff wanted to do a fund raiser,? said the executive director, ?And they have organised that for May 26.

?The white rolls are $8 per dozen and raisin-bread rolls are $10 per dozen. All orders for the roll sale must be made by or before May 23 by telephoning 292-4360.?

On June 10 avid and charitable golfers can do their bit at the golf classic, which will be held at the Port Royal Golf Club.

And mark your calendars for the Children?s Home annual moonlit walk, which takes place on July 8.

?We hope to raise $5,000 from the speed dating, and we are estimating $12,000 from the Golf Classic,? said Ms Carey.

?This is all for the operating cost of the home. We receive a grant from Government and all the rest has to be fundraising.?

Some of the projects for the home include new windows, electrical and plumbing.

?The children often need things as basic as a hair cut and there are so many opportunities for volunteers,? says Ms Carey.

?We have partnered with the Bermuda College electrical and plumbing department and they have come over and things like this cut back on the costs that we incur,? she said.

?The Sunshine League also has a Study Buddy Programme, which runs from Mondays to Thursdays and volunteers come in and help the children with their homework and school projects.

There are plenty of volunteer opportunities if people want to call.

?We also have a wish list, so if anyone would like to have a copy we can email it to them and they can select what is in the confines of their budget.

?But we often need things for the children like haircuts, school supplies, we need a digital camera, small things like that.

?We will also be re-installing the windows in the house as it was last renovated in 1992. So we have estimates for that. We also need a new van ? it never ends!?

Added Ms Carey: ?With so many children there is a lot of wear and tear and things don?t last as long as they would in a normal household. Also the kitchen cabinets need to be re-done.

?We have estimates for it all and if anyone is interested in contributing to any part of it they can give us a call.?

For more information on all events, volunteering or the offer of assistance, please telephone 292-4360.