Here’s a trip you’ll never forget: Helicopter to Victoria to see the Tri-Cities' MLAs at work in the Legislature — and spend the night at the Fairmont.
The unique package is one of about 100 items up for grabs in a silent auction that went live today (Nov. 1) for the Crossroads Hospice Society, a non-profit that cares for the dying and helps Tri-City and New Westminster families with their grieving.
Its 28th annual fall gala, titled I’ll Be Home for Christmas…Again?, will be a virtual edition for the second year with the aim to raise $60,000; last year’s online celebration collected $65,000 for the society’s programs and services at the Port Moody hospice.
But the political meet-and-greet on the MLAs’ turf isn’t the only big ticket package that you can bid on, as Crossroads also has for its silent auction
- a three-hour firehall tour in Port Moody, as well as a chance to take part in a firefighters’ training exercise
- a 3L magnum of 2018 Merlot from the Burrowing Owl Estate Winery
- a paella feast for 50 people prepared by Crossroads’ executive director, Janice Boyle
- an overnight stay at Le Soleil Hotel in Vancouver
- four lift tickets to ski Revelstoke Mountain Resort
The prizes will be available until Nov. 21 — the day after the virtual gala.
For the latter event on Nov. 20, it will be live-streamed via YouTube from 6 to 7 p.m. and will feature Crossroads stories, entertainment and, for participants who order, a grazing board and dessert box from Christine Catering with a bottle of wine from DBM Law; partial proceeds from the food orders will be given to Crossroads, said Jaimie Jeon, development officer and special events coordinator.
Still, there’s more: You can also place bids to hear gala musicians Al Foreman and Sue Malcolm perform a Christmas song that’s special to you or you can take a chance with the 50/50 jackpot (as of Monday morning, the total was $1,630); the draw is Feb. 1, 2022.
“We’ve seen first-hand that when communities come together to support a cause, the generosity flows,” Jeon said. “This is a great start to the holiday season.”
But while the fall gala is a big money-maker for Crossroads, it’s not the only fundraiser. This year’s Hike for Hospice brought in $45,000 while the Crossroads thrift store in Coquitlam yields about $600,000 a year for the charity. Boyle said it also receives about $400,000 annually from Fraser Health while other money comes in through private donations and merchandise sales.
• To buy tickets to the I’ll Be Home for Christmas…Again? gala, bid on prizes and join the 50/50 draw, visit crossroadshospice.org.
