Centre of Hope’s KD Gala Returns After a Year’s Hiatus
Talk about combining two of the best family attractions. It’s Christmas meets Halloween at the Centre of Hope, the local daytime homeless shelter’s annual KD Gala - it’s “Merry and Fright,” their theme this year. The highly anticipated event is happening on Sunday, December 5 at the Unifor Building from noon to 3 p.m. Unique Kraft Dinner dishes from local restaurants and several chefs, as well as new this year – baked and fried bannock will be on the menu, to name a few yummy items.
The fun gala going on for 15 years now, was cancelled last year due to the pandemic; and is a fundraiser for the United Way of Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo’s annual community campaign. Tickets are $25 each, children under five eat free of charge. As well, they will have a live and silent auction, a 50/50 raffle, and a bake sale.
“The Centre of Hope has been a proud funded agency with the United Way for many years and this is our way of giving back. This is a fun family event, which has been a huge hit with kids over the years. We will have a photo booth set up complete with props too, and can’t wait to host everyone,” said Rosie Keating, who has been with the Centre for over 12 years and has been the Executive Director for the last three years.
As for COVID precautions, Keating says, they will be “following the Restrictions Exemption Program, requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test.”
The group says “Thank you to Jeff Batchelor at Legacy Dodge for being our MC for the night, he is a big supporter of us. Thanks to Michel's Asian Foods and MR MIKES restaurant for providing us with some of the food. We will have baked and fried bannock this year from Ginger's Bannock House. The Wood Buffalo Food Bank Association is donating bottled water for the event. Face painting will be by donation - thank you to (local artist) Ruth Perry. (In addition) there will be a raffle item of a limited edition print from Amy Keller-Rempp, the recent Arts Council Wood Buffalo Buffy award-winning local Indigenous artist.”
Tickets are available from the Centre of Hope’s Facebook page.
