Tickets available now for bud, spud, steak fundraiser on July 17
Santa Claus is coming to town a bit early this year, with a Christmas in July bud, spud, and steak event later this month to raise money for a local holiday hamper initiative.
Launched in 2019, the Big Hearts Hamper Drive puts together hampers for people in the area during the holiday season. Organizers anticipate a higher need for hampers due to increasing food costs. To get a head start on fundraising efforts to help put together the hampers, the Big Hearts Hamper Drive is hosting an event on July 17 at the Selkirk Legion.
“If we can focus on doing hampers, for that one time — the holiday season — the food banks can focus more on the day-to-day, and it might take a little strain off them as well,” said Wendy Meger, general manager at Selkirk Home Hardware, which is one of the partners of the Big Hearts Hamper Drive.
In addition to the meal, there will be door prizes, a 50/50 draw and a silent auction. Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item or an unwrapped toy that will go into the hampers later this year. For the items they bring in, they will receive extra ballots for prize draws at the fundraising dinner.
Businesses are invited to donate prizes for the silent auction and door prizes. They can also contribute monetary donations to the event, which will go toward creating the hampers later this year.
The hampers will be delivered to people in the St. Clements, St. Andrews, and Selkirk areas in December. Closer to the holiday season, people who require a hamper can contact the Big Hearts Hamper Drive organizers to let them know they need assistance, and their names will be added to a list.
Last year, the Big Hearts Hamper Drive distributed nearly 400 hampers. This year, the drive’s goal is to collect more than 450.
People who receive the hampers get the chance to choose a gift for their child, which gives it a personal touch, Meger said.
“Here at Home Hardware, we’re very community-oriented, and we feel it’s important to give back, and that’s one place we feel we can make a real distance,” Meger said. “We don’t want to see anybody go without.”
Meger said a very special guest will attend the fundraising dinner—Santa is taking time out of his vacation to make an appearance at the event.
Tickets for the Selkirk in July event are $30 and are available at Selkirk Home Hardware and by contacting Meger at 204-785-0113 or wendy.shhbc@mts.net. Because tickets are limited, people are encouraged to purchase them as soon as possible.
Those unable to attend the event can donate cash at the till at Selkirk Home Hardware.
Meger also said that if people have any remaining money on Selkirk Biz Bucks, prepaid Visa, or MasterCards, they can donate it at Home Hardware. The money will go toward the Big Hearts Hamper Drive.
“A lot of people have cards with cents or dollars on [them]. We want to encourage everyone if they do have those lying around to bring those in store, and we will put those through our tills as a donation,” Meger said. “Those pennies and maybe a dollar or two really add up.”
