Local market to host fundraiser for Virginia Tech Hokie Memorial

As much of America rushes to help the Virginia Tech community in any way possible through the aftermath of the April 16 shootings, a local Bloomington grocery store has made their plans to help.\nThe Sahara Mart, 106 E. Second St., is planning to host their biannual wine and beer tasting event on Saturday. But this time they are adding a twist.\nThey began hosting the event in September 2005 and while it started as a completely free event, this year organizers are planning on asking for donations from those who attend, Tracey Walker, Sahara Mart wine and beer manager, said.\n“It is still a free event. We are asking people who attend to make a small donation,” Walker said. “We believe that we will be able to make a nice deposit to the Hokie Fund.”\nThe Sahara Mart, said Walker, is planning to donate 100 percent of all money collected during their event to the Virginia Tech Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund, which was set up in the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy. It offers money to assist victims and their families, provide grief counseling and cover expenses of memorials, communication and comfort.\n“It’s not going to be a somber event; it’s not a memorial or vigil,” Walker said. “It will be fun, but we want to use the people that attend to help this fund.”\nThroughout the event, the Sahara Mart will be asking for a $1 or more donation and will be selling $1 bratwursts and hamburgers, which have been donated by Fisher Family Farms, according to a press release. The Sahara Mart will still continue to collect donations throughout the following week for anyone who is unable to attend Saturday’s event.\nWalker said that Owner Javad Noorihoseini, of the Sahara Mart, knew he would want to help when he heard about the tragedy at Virginia Tech.\n“He was so moved by what happened in Virginia, thinking how it could have easily happened here,” Walker said. “He came to me and asked how we could help. We thought this was a great way for a university town like Bloomington to reach out and help.”\nAfter deciding he had to do something for those affected by the shooting, Walker talked to Frank Walsh, a friend and wine salesman to the Sahara Mart. Walsh has a sister that works as the Director of Development at Virginia Tech. Walsh informed Walker of the fund and the two started working together on making the biannual event a fundraiser.\nSeveral Indiana suppliers, wine and beer producers will be making corporate donations as well, including Upland Brewery, Monarch Beverages and Graybull Organic Wines.\n“It’s fabulous. We really support what they’re trying to do,” Penn Janson, Upland Brewery vice president of marketing, said. \n“The fact of the matter is it could have been any university.”\nWalker said the Sahara Mart is expecting a wide cross-section of people to attend the event, which will last from 1 to 5 p.m. The attendees will range between student, faculty and Bloomington-natives, he said.\n“There’s not a whole lot of people who don’t enjoy beer and wine,” said Walker.