Central Community Homes (CCH) has launched what it hopes will be Winkler’s biggest 50/50 raffle ever.
Tickets are on sale now (raffle.link/cch) starting at $5 each. The pot is already at nearly $11,000, with seven weeks to go until the July 1 draw date.
“We’re going to run this thing to the highest in Winkler’s 50/50 history,” said CCH vice-chair Dave Kasdorf, noting proceeds from Monday’s campaign kickoff luncheon allowed them to seed the pot with $10,000.
Funds from the raffle will go to support the 28-unit affordable housing complex being built by CCH at the corner of North Railway Ave. and Main St.
“We’ve been working hard to get the financing together” for this project, shared board chair James Friesen. “We’re looking at getting the staff in place, but meanwhile the building is on budget and ahead of schedule.”
It’s slated to welcome its first residents this fall, which will take a small but meaningful bite out the wait list—more than 100 people long—CCH currently has for its social housing units throughout Winkler.
Leveraging the equity from its other houses and apartment buildings, the non-profit was able to get construction going on this new build, but Friesen said they’re still about half a million dollars shy of what’s needed to fully fund the project.
“We need to close the gap in our funding to put this thing over the top and set us up for moving ahead,” he said.
They’re hoping the final 50/50 pot will get them a good ways towards their goal. The randomly selected winning ticket holder will pocket half the pot, with the rest going to CCH.
“What we’re doing here is a worthwhile project,” Friesen said in reflecting on how high the pot might go. “Plus, there’s an incentive to win big money.”
The need for affordable housing continues to grow in Winkler, and organizations like CCH are trying their best to keep up to ensure the most vulnerable members of our community aren’t left out in the cold.
“Housing is so fundamental to all of us,” Friesen said, stressing safe, affordable housing is the foundation on which struggling people and families can grow and thrive, overcoming other challenges they may face.
“When we talk about … what it looks like to be a successful community, it’s when everybody across the whole spectrum is cared for, recognized, and supported,” he said.
“We can do this in this community because of all you folks,” Friesen told the more than 100 luncheon attendees representing numerous Winkler area businesses and social service organizations. “You get this. It’s part of your DNA. It’s something that we’re on the map for. We’re able to leverage things well beyond what we can do individually.”
Also speaking at the luncheon was David Asper of Funding Change, the online platform CCH has teamed up with to host the raffle.
Asper’s presentation shared stories of his varied business and philanthropic accomplishments. He urged attendees to continue making a difference by giving back.
“Do well in business and do good … this has become my mantra for my own giving,” he shared.
Asper is optimistic this will be a successful fundraiser for CCH, and he also hopes people take a moment to consider the impact affordable housing has on people’s lives.
“The ripple effect across multiple other aspects of life that improve people’s lives and that therefore improve the life of the community is profound,” he said.
You can learn more and make a donation to the fundraising campaign online at centralcommunityhomes.ca.
