Although most of us may not be thinking of the holidays just yet, You Are Not Alone (YANA) is gearing up for its annual Christmas fundraiser and they need the community’s help.
YANA's Christmas cracker campaign raises funds to help Comox Valley families who must travel for the medical care of a child under 19 or an expecting mother.
The popular crackers will go on sale mid-November, but YANA needs volunteers to help make the 5,000 crackers starting Oct. 13.
“We have been making Christmas crackers for almost 20 years now,” says YANA president, Judy Cryer. “We are so fortunate that we have so many volunteers who come out to lend a hand.”
"It's a really fun time to be in the YANA office,” adds coordinator Lesley Hunter. "Everybody has a good time and you meet new people; it’s very festive.”
While most of the crackers feature the traditional coloured hat, quote and toy, 50 of them will include special prizes and one will include the grand prize, a diamond ring, donated by Mark the Gold Guy at Comox Valley Pawnbrokers, with an appraised value of $4,545.00! The crackers will be sold at various businesses, and at the YANA office starting in November.
Volunteers can drop-in from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during October and into early November, depending on need. Group times can be booked on Tuesday and Thursday evenings by calling 250-871-0343. Cracker-making sessions take place at the YANA office at 495 Fitzgerald Ave. in Courtenay.
This is a volunteer opportunity best suited for adults, seniors, and older teens.
Hunter is looking forward to the next few weeks of crafting and notes the crackers are "a Christmas tradition" in the Valley, and she looks forward to meeting new volunteers who want to keep this tradition of compassion alive.
For more information, visit www.yanacomoxvalley.com.