Coun. Margaret Chadsey was one of several volunteers from the community who helped out on June 3 at the Osoyoos Tim Hortons Camp Day fundraising event. Here she hands change back to drive-thru customer Tina Slater of Osoyoos. Photo by Paul Everest
By Paul Everest – Osoyoos Times
OSOYOOS TIMES-June 10, 2009
Motorists waiting to pick up coffee and doughnuts in the Osoyoos Tim Hortons drive-thru line on June 3 were treated to shrieks of disbelief and joy as everyone from the commander of the Osoyoos RCMP detachment to the doughnut store’s manager to members of Osoyoos’s paramedic service splashed into the waters of the local Kiwanis Club’s dunk tank in the parking lot.
The tank was just one special treat meeting people coming into the shop on Tim Hortons Camp Day, a fundraising effort to send 14,000 children across Canada to one of the chain’s six Foundation camps.
Along with spending a few bucks to get the chance to dunk someone, people could donate cash to spin a prize wheel for a free coffee or doughnut or try their putting skills to win a prize.
Local volunteers, including members of the RCMP, the paramedics, representatives from the Town of Osoyoos, local business people and even Osoyoos-born NHL star Mitch Fritz, took turns in the store to keep money rolling in for the fundraiser.
Every penny from coffee sales at the store was also donated to the cause.
In the end, more than $3,400 was raised at the Osoyoos location, more than $14,716 was raised in the South Okanagan and $9.4 million was raised across Canada.
The Osoyoos location raised the most cash donations in the South Okanagan.
Two boys from Osoyoos will be joining 10 other South Okanagan children between the ages of nine and 12 at a camp in Alberta this July thanks to the fundraiser.
The administration of Osoyoos Elementary School was approached in October to select two students who would benefit the most from a trip to camp and the choices were then forwarded to the chain’s head office for final say.
The amount of money raised in the South Okanagan was up 12 per cent from last year.
