Former Fort Frances mayor Glenn Witherspoon has been confirmed as the guest speaker at the annual “Community Chest” benefit dinner, which is slated for Sunday, Feb. 8 at La Place Rendez-Vous.
“Glenn was very supportive of the ‘Community Chest’ when we were first starting up,” said Linda Hamilton of the “Spirit of Christmas” committee, which helps organize the fundraiser each year along with members of the local Kiwanis and Lions clubs, and Knights of Columbus, and the Rendez-Vous staff.
“He’s also well-known, he’s free, and he’s around,” she remarked. “I’m sure he’ll be able to tell a few jokes.”
The benefit dinner once again will feature both live and silent auctions, as well as a plethora of door prizes. Telford Advent has donated his time to be an auctioneer for the fourth year in a row.
Larry Cousineau, who also will emcee the event once again, and Alan Zucchiatti have been busy rounding up items donated by local businesses and individuals.
Tickets, which cost $25 each or $250 for a table of 10 (which can be reserved in advance) are now available at the Rendez-Vous, Cousineau Brokers, and Rainy Lake Realty.
“Ticket sales are picking up,” said Georges Blanc, who is helping organize the dinner as both co-owner of the Rendez-Vous and a member of the local Knights of Columbus.
“We’re hoping we’ll sell out again this year. I think we will be, but it’s nice to know ahead of time,” he added.
While you can’t get a tax receipt for the meal tickets, you can get them for cash donations, which are more than welcome, Blanc stressed.
Cocktails will be served at 5 p.m., with dinner at 6.
All of the food served is donated by local businesses and individuals to reduce costs and thus maximize proceeds.
The purpose of the “Community Chest” is to provide financial aid to local families who may need help to cover medical costs, for which it receives requests on a regular basis.
Last year’s dinner brought in about $15,000.
In related news, for those who would like to help out the “Community Chest” now, tickets still are available for a fundraiser raffle at Safeway here, with the grand prize being $100 in groceries every week for a year.
The second- and third-place winners will get $500 and $300 worth of groceries, respectively.
The draw will be made Saturday, Jan. 31 at 5 p.m. at Safeway. Tickets cost $5 each, with a total of 3,000 having been printed.
These are available at the customer service desk at Safeway and from “Community Chest” members selling them there on weekends.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
