Craig Daily Press

Craig — The varied smells of cooking food and the sounds of a crowd wafted from the Moffat County Fairground’s covered picnic area Wednesday afternoon.

At first glance, the people sitting at the metal picnic table could have been mistaken for any other group who were taking pause from the Moffat County Fair’s activities.

However, the gathering wasn’t an impromptu get-together, officials from a local multicultural organization said.

Instead, it was an inaugural event celebrating Craig’s varied cultural community.

The Moffat County Fair Culture Days showcased foods and activities representing cultures spanning the globe.

Foods offered at the event ranged from Mexican to Asian cuisine.

Irish dancers practiced their steps, while event volunteers were gearing up for a showing of “Under the Same Moon,” or “La Misma Luna,” in Spanish. The film depicts the attempts of a mother and son to reunite after the former travels across the Mexican border to find work in the United States.

Summer Laws, Integrated Community/Comunidad Inte­grada executive director, said the event was part of the Moffat County Fair’s scheduled entertainment this year and was organized by Craig resident Tammy Villard.

The event is “really the fair’s project,” Laws said.

“We’re just really excited that the (Moffat County) Fair Board decided to do this,” she said.

In addition to drawing together people from different cultures, the gathering also served as a fundraiser for local residents Jose Mendoza and his wife, Mayola Cruz.

In March, Mendoza, who was blind in one eye, sustained an injury to his healthy eye, Cruz said.

Mendoza is receiving treatment, she said, but cannot see from either of his eyes.

Proceeds from the Cultural Days will go to Cruz and Mendoza to help pay for medical bills.

“I’m really, really appreciative (of) everyone” who helped put on the fundraiser, Cruz said.

Volunteers from Integrated Community were among the people who helped put on the fundraiser.

Eveline Bacon, Integrated Community intercultural and English as a second language program manager, was one of them.

When asked why Integrated Community had volunteered to help with the fundraiser, her answer was simple.

“Because that’s what we do,” she said.