Breakfast will definitely be the most important meal of the day next Thursday.
That’s because the United Way and the Penticton Lakeside Resort are hosting the second annual Drive-Thru Breakfast fundraiser.
For a donation to this year’s campaign, those who make their way to the hotel parking lot can pick up a goodie bag valued at $100, a hot breakfast wrap and have a chance at winning prizes valued in excess of $4,000.
“It’s a novel idea, it’s quick, it’s fun, people can do it on their way to work or on their morning dog walk,” said executive director Marla O’Brien of the United Way. “There’s no ticket you have to buy ahead of time, it is really a simple way to participate, give back, and possibly win some awesome prizes.
“It is a huge fundraising activity for the United Way’s campaign here in Penticton and we’re upping the number of bags from 550 to 750.
“They sold out last year and hopefully this year with a little bit more awareness building we’ll go through those 750 bags as well.”
The final figure raised from last year’s inaugural event was just under $8,000 and O’Brien believes with the addition of a special program put on by the Skaha Ford and Penticton Kia car dealerships this year’s total could top the $10,000 mark.
“Most people are just wanting to be involved in helping the community and are willing to participate because they want to give back,” said the United Way’s Miranda Tumbach.
In addition to the hot wrap breakfast, once again scheduled to be prepared by Lakeside general manager David Prystay, the bag given at the Drive-Thru to those who donate will contain a variety of other foodstuffs, gifts, coupons and maybe even a special prize.
“Yes, hopefully David (Prystay) is cooking his hot wraps again this year, and I probably shouldn’t go on the record saying this, but the breakfast at this Drive-Thru beats the breakfast in Kelowna,” said O’Brien. “But seriously, we’ve just had amazing, amazing response from the business community here. Miranda’s been knocking on doors and everybody is saying, ‘yeah sure, we want to get on board.’”
Working the breakfast front lines again this year will be members of the Penticton Vees junior hockey team, firefighters and many other volunteers.
O’Brien believes the strong local support is due largely to the fact the money raised here stays in the community and the South Okanagan.
Each spring after the donations are tabulated, officials of the organization begin the task of determining which agencies will receive the support.
“Every not-for-profit has their own missions, an issue or cause they want to tackle and when they have to spend a lot of their time distracted trying to fundraise it inhibits them from being able to accomplish that mission,” said O’Brien.
“The applications we look at must fit into one of three categories — poverty to possibility, all that kids can be and strong communities — are kind of the three catchment areas.
“The more that the United Way can take that on for them it just lets them do their job more efficiently.”
She added the intent is not to make it onerous on the charities but at the end of the day donors should have the knowledge of where the money goes and what it accomplishes.
Breakfast begins at 7 a.m. and runs until 9 a.m.