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Hot dog giveaway raises $6,000 for hospice

Total donation of $12,000 from Rotary Club of Abbotsford Sumas

A hot dog giveaway organized by the Rotary Club of Abbotsford Sumas on Jan. 2 raised $6,000 to help build Holmberg House hospice.

Kelly Railton, the club's service director, said they called it a “pop up” fundraiser, which “really means we decided on the spur of the moment to do it and flew by the seat of our pants."

The event was held at the Sevenoaks Shopping Centre and the products were donated by Dave Parisotto, owner of the Independent grocery store.

They raised $3,5000 in donations on the day of the event, including a $1,000 private donation and $250 from the chamber of commerce. The club also gave $2,500, which was raised during the year at their annual strawberry sale and St. Patrick’s Day dance – bringing the total donation to Abbotsford Hospice Society to $6,000.

The money was put into a matching fund, where Dave and Lee Holmberg – who have already donated $1 million to Holmberg House – will match up to $500,000 in donations.

The Rotary Club of Abbotsford Sumas has a membership of 30 people and each year they raise money to help others, with more than 70 per cent of the funds staying in Abbotsford.