Rotary Club of Williams Lake will have drawn names for some big prizes this week.
The club is fundraising to support more of the many projects they do, which have included things like the Rotary Exercise Park in Kiwanis Park and the Stampede Breakfast they put on each year during the Williams Lake Stampede. The group also hosts barbecues at Retirement Concepts for seniors and other community-building events.
Last year, the club was brainstorming ideas on how to fundraise and thought during the winter people are dreaming of trips, so a travel voucher might be a great raffle prize. So the club purchased a $6,000 travel voucher from All-Ways Travel, hoping to raise funds for their programs and projects while also supporting a local business. The voucher can be used all at once or on more than one trip. Second prize is also an exciting travel opportunity, offering a Bella Coola experience for four, with a boat trip to hot springs, fjords and a big cedar. The group would have to make their own way to Bella Coola but the trip includes accomodation. Third prize is a $500 cash prize.
The raffle is “a new endeavour for us this year,” said Amber Stratton, current club president, who became a member of Rotary in 2018, though she was a Rotary exchange student to Finland when she was younger.
Now, in a place in her life where she is able to get more involved, she has jumped in with both feet, taking on the leadership position.
“Rotary has always been a part of me,” she said.
With volunteers working hard since December 2024 to sell tickets, there were only 28 left as of March 28, and just 800 tickets available.
“We’ve done well,” said Stratton, acknowledging the hard work put in by the club to attend multiple events and sell tickets.
Statton said she’s promised to jump for joy if they manage to sell all the tickets. The group was down at Save-On Foods Friday, April 28 to try and sell the final few.
Tickets were $25 each or five tickets for $100, and were available at O-Netrix Solutions or from any Williams Lake Rotary member. The draw will have taken place on Wednesday, April 2 at CJ’s Southwestern Grill during the monthly Rotary club lunch meeting.
“I’m so excited to have our draw,” said Stratton, on Friday, March 28.
The club is brainstorming for ideas for next year’s projects, and she said community members with potential projects can reach out to the club.
Rotary of Williams Lake will also be hosting a grand opening barbecue at the Rotary Fitness Park in Kiwanis Park on May 28, with hot dogs and burgers by donation.
For more information on the raffle, club or grand opening, contact John Hack at 250-392-7113 or jhack@onetrix.com.
Editor's Note: This story was updated to correct the date ticket sales began and update the tense. The previous version incorrectly indicated ticket sales had begun in April.
