The 2020 YANA Christmas Cracker Campaign is kicking off again, and like most things right now, this year’s fundraiser looks a little different.
The usual cracker-making gatherings were cancelled due to the pandemic situation and social distancing measures, but the efforts continued, led by volunteer campaign co-ordinator, Robbie Rusk. Her dream team of cracker crafters came forward to take supplies home and they pulled together to assemble the 5000 crackers throughout the COVID lockdown in the spring.
Crackers are ready for purchase at seven retail locations, as well as in the online store just launched. YANA executive director Kelly Barnie shared the shift in approach to this year’s campaign, and the measures they’ve taken to ensure the fundraiser is both safe and successful.
“Like everything fundraising and life in general, this year’s cracker campaign has required us to adjust and adapt,” she said. “We’ve limited our distribution locations to businesses with strong COVID protocols in place for walk-in business, as well as to places most likely to remain open if restrictions increase again. We also started an online store, where buyers can choose to purchase and pick-up at YANA’s office on Rosewall Crescent, or to have their crackers directly shipped to the location they choose. We know that many businesses and individuals are thinking about the approaching tax season and the contributions they want to make, and the online store makes it easy to add an additional donation and receive a receipt for the 2020 tax year.”
The hand-crafted crackers are $3 each and contain traditional trinkets and jokes. Fifty crackers contain special prizes donated by local businesses, including the grand prize of a gorgeous 18-karat gold diamond Cavelti ring generously donated by Mark the Gold, appraised at $2,835 by Tim Haley of Simply Timeless.
Last year, YANA supported 172 families and 433 medical trips for Comox Valley families who required medical care outside of the community. Because of the generous sponsorships from Paul Ardron and Kirk Campbell of IG Wealth Management, 100per cent of the cracker proceeds go directly to the continued support that YANA provides for our community and families.
YANA Christmas Crackers are on sale now, and sell out quickly every year. They can be purchased at Edible Island Whole Foods Market, Seeds Food Market, Tin Town Cafe, John’s Your Independent Grocer, Comox Community Centre, Quality Foods in Comox and Courtenay and online at yanacomoxvalley.com
Bulk orders, as well as cash donations, can also be done at the YANA office at 102, 2456 Rosewall Cres on Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.