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 $3,500 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.