When one first hears of the Sundridge Harmony Guild, it is very easy to misunderstand what they do.

“People think it's a singing group,” said Carol Brown.

Brown and her good friend Myrna Schneider are two of the longest-serving members of this local service group, which is about harmony in a community sense, rather than musical. Since about 1950, the ladies of the Harmony Guild have organized events and raised money for various causes, with a focus on residents of Sundridge, Strong and Joly.

“We're there if you need our help,” said Brown.

“Every penny we raise goes back into the community,” noted Schneider, explaining that the cost of the club's social activities comes out of the members' own pockets.

The guild began as the ladies' auxilliary of the local Anglican church. It became a non-denominational group in the early 1950s, allowing a larger and more diverse membership. Schneider and Brown joined in the late 1950s. Over the following half-century, the Harmony Guild has held many breakfasts and dinners, yard sales and dances, fashion shows and bazaars, and participated in parades, festivals, tree lightings and other events.

People still talk about the annual Halloween dances they held for many years, and the elaborate costumes that people wore. The arena was full to capacity and beyond, as people were sneaking in the back door.

“That was an awesome dance,” said Schneider.

“Fabulous,” agreed Brown.

The group also once raised nearly $2,000 at a teddy bear auction of nearly 60 bears.

Not all the Harmony Guild's endeavours have been successful, however. Their two past attempts at selling ice cream in the park managed to fall on the coldest day of the summer and the hottest day of the summer, leaving unsold ice cream and melted ice cream, respectively.

Through these many endeavours, the Harmony Guild has supported many local causes, including the Christmas Cheer program, the medical centre, the food bank, the fire department, the arena and many families in need, whether they are victims of a fire or facing the expenses of medical treatment.

Twenty members strong and still welcoming new members, the Harmony Guild continues to meet monthly at the community centre, where they plan their upcoming events, discuss club business and enjoy a variety of guest speakers, followed by a lunch. Ironically, the meetings are sometimes not so harmonious.

“We argue, but we're the best of friends, all of us,” said Schneider. “We've all grown up here in this small village, we've all gone to school together, and we're like sisters.”

For the Sunflower Festival, the Harmony Guild will be serving tea and goodies, for a $5.00 donation, at the community centre on Saturday, August 13.