VIRGINIA BEACH, Va - For the last five years a local non-profit group, Pandas Fight Against Cancer, has held an annual fundraiser to raise money and school supplies for underprivileged children in the area, but this is the first year it has going virtual.
It is a fundraiser Faline Mahaffye, Halle Trigueiro, and their organization -- Pandas Fight Against Cancer -- have put on each year -- to raise money and school supplies to help children in need start the school year right.
"Children and families shouldn't really have to worry about that, especially right now during this pandemic," Trigueiro, the organizations secretary and treasurer said.
But it's the first back-to-school fundraiser they'll do online because of the coronavirus pandemic, and they said they hope it goes on without any issues.
"We make do with what we have."
Because they added they do not want a repeat of the last time they had a virtual event.
"There was a tiny little difficulty and when it happened the screen said we'll be right back,'" Trigueiro said.
Technical difficulties mean lost money and less support for the children, especially since the two say this event has raised about $20,000 each year.
"It lifts those other worries off of their minds, you know," Trigueiro explained, "will I have a notebook, will I have pens, and papers, and binders, and all those other things."
For the last five years, they've held their back-to-school fundraiser here at the Sandbar Surf Bar. They would normally get roughly 500 people going in and out, but as you can see it's empty now and unfortunately it will be for the fundraiser as it goes virtually for the first time.
They assure everyone it will still have the entertainment and vibe of the prior years.
"I'm very much a social person so I like seeing the people come out and watching everyone have a great," Mahaffye said.
"It just makes really me so happy knowing something so small, or would seem small to some people, can make such a big difference in their lives," Mahaffye added.
The group will host a live stream on Facebook on Tuesday, from 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
There will be musical performances by LITT KEYS.
Donations can be made online through Paypal: @Pandasfightcancer, Venmo: @Pandasfightcancer, Cashapp: $Pandasfightcance , and the money and supplies go to families and teachers.
