While many people are still running around preparing for Christmas, a group of local volunteers have had their sights set on New Year’s Eve celebrations for quite some time already.
The St. Paul & Community Family Benefit Society has been busy planning a family-friendly night, filled with entertainment, snacks, prizes, and fundraising, all to help those in their time of need.
“There’s going to be a kids’ play zone, door prizes for adults and kids, a silent auction, party favours, a 50/50 draw and a popcorn bar,” says Lynda Munro, communications coordinator with the society. Overall, the evening will have a similar format as year’s past.
This year’s entertainment is Bass Line Union, which features local musician Tony Noel. The event is licensed, but is open to adults and children to attend.
In the past eight years, the organization has raised $132,579, helping 22 families. In the past year, the organization has changed how it hands out funds. Rather than waiting until the end of the year to offer families in need assistance, the group is now taking nominations year-round, and handing out funds when families are most in need.
“We’re able to help families immediately, rather than waiting,” explains Munro.
She adds that the society is looking for nominations, and has a few nominations in hand. Families do have to meet a set of criteria to benefit from the society’s funds, which includes living with the town or county of St. Paul, and having a child residing with the family who is under the age of 18, among other things.
Overall, the society aims to help “as many families as possible,” throughout the year, says Munro. Although she has only been involved with the organization for the past year, she is very excited to be part of the group.
Munro says she was looking for a way to give back to the community, when she became involved with the society. As a single parent, she says she faced struggles, and personally had lots of people step up to help her along the way.
“I felt this was one way I could pay it forward.”
Munro says she encouraged people to attend the event because “The money stays in the community . . . they’re donating to help their neighbours and friends.”
Also, since the event is catered to adults and children, it offers locals a place to celebrate New Year’s Eve with their family. And, a red nose program is also going to be in place to help people get home safe.
Although there are enough hands to help organize the event itself this year, Munro says the society is always looking for more volunteers to join. The group does barbecue fundraisers and other events, year-round, which means there is always something that needs to be done.
Tickets for the event are $20 for those 13 years old and up, and $5 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased at the Co-op Gas Bar, or Xtreme Power Products, in St. Paul. In Elk Point, tickets can be purchased by contacting Munro at (780) 207-0159.
The group is also still accepting donations, and has started collecting a nice selection of silent auction items, big and small. If anyone is interested in donating to the event, they can contact Tammy at (780) 645-1327.
