Pearl Lorentzen
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Stage North sold out the third mostly annual Old Fashioned Christmas Coffee House. This fundraiser started during the COVID-19 pandemic with a break in 2022.
The coffee house included performers from musicians to vocalists to dancers.
Slave Lake and Kinuso volunteered to perform.
Slave Lake Community Handbells started the show.
A large group of dancers from Dance Creations wrapped it up.
Three of the acts were from Kinuso: Gracie Churchill, Jesse Turcotte, and ‘Something Funky’ which consists of Joel MacIntosh, Iazzc Davis, and Billyray Chalifoux.
The rest of the performers were from the Slave Lake area (their names are under their photos).
Money was also raised through a silent auction.
Many businesses and individuals donated items for the silent auction.
Asked how much money was raised, Ellen Criss Stage North president says, “The dust hasn’t settled yet about the money, but we will be donating half of the profits to Santas Anonymous and the food bank, and retaining half for our community projects, such as the free entertainment during Riverboat Daze and/or Beachfest.”
The previous two years all proceeds went to the food bank/Santas Anonymous.
In Slave Lake, Santas Anonymous and the food bank are run by Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre.
Santas Anonymous provides Christmas food hampers and Christmas presents for children zero to 18 for families in need. The food bank provides food once a month to people in need. Both are in urgent need of more money.
About the food bank, Friendship Centre Executive-Director Barb Courtorielle says, “I don’t have enough for one month.”
It costs $30,000 a month for the food bank to help all of the people in need. The most efficient way to support the food bank is with cash or cheques dropped off at the Friendship Centre. Although people wanting to donate food can get a list of needed items from the food bank.
The number of Santas Anonymous donations are down, says Courtorielle. This is partly due to the postal strike as many people mail in cheques.
“We are getting a little bit,” she adds, “but not even half of what we normally get.”
Courtorielle has ordered 240 hampers.
Last year, 240 families received a hamper and 396 children received a gift.
Last year, the hampers cost $48,000, says Courtorielle.
Gifts are above this. These can include anything that a child might like for Christmas from toys to stuffed animals to art supplies to makeup. Many are donated through toy drives.
