You still have time to help New Westminster Secondary School’s Class of 2021 enjoy a proper send-off in the face of COVID-19.
The NWSS dry grad committee is giving its fundraising efforts a new push in the hopes of adding to the $23,000 it already has in the coffers to give this year’s graduating class a safe celebration. That leaves the group about $7,000 short of its goal.
For its latest effort, the committee has set up an online auction packed with a variety of local, pandemic-safe options, including gift cards for a wide range of stores, eateries and services, as well as bookings for experiences (such as an online escape room, two hours of arcade gaming, or a two-hour boat ride). You can also put in a bid on a number of physical items: an acoustic guitar and lessons, a Remy Martin XO cognac gift basket, a skin care basket and more.
Items are being added daily, so keep checking back for more options.
Committee member Daniel Fontaine said the group is hoping to raise $2,000 or more from the online auction.
At the same time, it’s continuing to push its ongoing bottle drive, hoping to soon close in on the $1,000 mark there. Anyone who wants to support the dry grad by donating the proceeds of their returnables can simply go to a New Westminster Return-It Depot and direct proceeds to the NWSS dry grad account (see how-to below).
Anyone who’d like to donate to the cause can also contribute to an ongoing GoFundMe campaign, which now stands at close to $7,000.
Fontaine noted the organizing committee has booked the Inn at the Quay for a dry grad celebration tentatively scheduled for the first week of July, but it’s also organizing a “Plan B” in light of ongoing uncertainty around the pandemic.
HOW TO HELP NWSS DRY GRAD AT THE RETURN-IT DEPOT
It’s an easy process to donate your bottle and can proceeds to the NWSS dry grad:
- Put your empty bottles and cans into a clear plastic bag (avoid pull-string closures).
- Go to your neighbourhood Return-It Depot.
- At the Return-It Express Kiosk, access the NWSS dry grad account by entering the school phone number (604-517-6391).
- Enter the number of stickers needed (one per bag).
- Put the stickers on the bag(s) and put in the bin.
- Funds will automatically be deposited in the grad committee account.
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, [email protected].
