An upcoming fundraiser for the Chilliwack Hospice Society will be more casual and more accessible this year.
Desmond Devnich, the society's marketing manager, describes the 12th annual Hometown Hoedown for Hospice as “a party for a cause."
The country-themed event is happening Saturday, April 5 at Evergreen Hall and it raises money for free grief support and palliative-care support programs for children, youth, and adults in Chilliwack and the surrounding communities.
This year, they're taking a different approach to the fundraiser.
“We are shortening the program, extending the dance floor," he said. “It already is casual, but we wanted to go for more casual, more affordable.”
Ticket prices have been reduced, plus people won't be sitting through several speeches, a video, or a live auction where the majority of people attending the fundraiser cannot afford to bid on the big-ticket items.
“We don't want it to be exclusive. We don't want it to be only available to a certain demographic. We want this to be young, fun, playing music from the '80s, '90s, and current country hits."
The signature event will feature a barbecue dinner by Guerilla Q which includes beef brisket, barbecue chicken, mac-and-cheese, baked potatoes and Caesar salad. Yes, second helpings will be available.
There will also be a 50/50 draw, heads-and-tails loonie/toonie game, dessert dash, mechanical bull, spin-the-wheel game of chance, and a silent auction.
The silent auction will be online and open to everyone, including those who cannot attend the Hometown Hoedown for Hospice. There will be about 100 items up for auction including flights, local cabin stays, barbecues, Canucks jerseys, Chiefs tickets and much more.
The silent auction opens at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 30 and goes until 10:30 p.m. on the night of the event (April 5). It is online only and those who bid on items get notifications by text message when they've been outbid.
It's not a gala event, so casual dress of jeans and plaid shirts is encouraged, Devnich said.
“You don’t need to buy new, it doesn’t need to be a whole new outfit, and it doesn’t need to be a gala dress.”
He added that outfits can be affordable – if one doesn’t have the boots or plaid shirt, they can head to the Chilliwack Hospice Society's Thrifty Boutique (101-7955 Evans Rd.) to find some second-hand deals. They've even set up a country-themed display at the thrift shop tying in with the hoedown fundraiser.
The Thrifty Boutique is the hospice society's number-one source of income, where 73 per cent of their revenue is generated. The shop is run by a handful of staff and 130 volunteers. All items that come into the Thrifty Boutique are donations. They rely on the community to not only donate the items, but to buy them as well.
“It supports a sustainable community,” he said. “Thrift stores, they are completely community-supported. You don't know what you're getting until the community donates to you, and you don't get to choose."
Last year's hoedown fundraiser brought in $68,000.
“What I love most about the Hoedown for Hospice is that it is such a great, fun way to gather with friends and have a good time while supporting a community cause, and while still making a difference… but also just being able to relax on a Saturday night and have a good time in Chilliwack with 200-300 other people.”
The 12th annual Hometown Hoedown for Hospice, presented by Century Plumbing and Heating, is Saturday, April 5 at Evergreen Hall in Chilliwack. Doors open at 6 p.m. and it's a 19+ event. Tickets are $75. For more info, including the link to the silent auction and to buy tickets, go to chilliwackhospice.org/calendar-events/hometown-hoedown-for-hospice/.
The silent auction items will be at the event for winning bidders to take home that night. Those who are not at the fundraiser and win a silent-auction item will be able to pick it up at the Chilliwack Hospice Society office the following week.