This weekend the elves will be hustling.
On Saturday, Dec. 8, the Elves Club is hosting its annual Crash the Coast event, with a boot drive on the streets and telethon on Eastlink Community TV.
The aim this year – the Elves Club’s 50th anniversary – is to raise $40,000.
The telethon will run from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday at the Gibsons Heritage Playhouse, MCed by Duane Burnett, Nicholas Simons, Matt Morris, Suzanne Ingram and others, and will feature dance performances by local acts such as the Harmony Hall Line Dancers and the Coast Academy of Dance. Local music acts such as BUGS ukulele group and the Balkan Choir will also be featured, among many others. As with most live shows, the schedule is subject to change.
Those on the road will also have a chance to donate with the annual boot drive.
As is tradition, local first responders will be stationed at intersections and businesses from Gibsons to Pender Harbour on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., footwear in hand. Drivers and pedestrians are encouraged to fill those boots with coins and bills. Keep your eyes peeled for Santa making the rounds.
Crash the Coast is one of the longest-running charity events in the community, and the most important fundraiser for Elves Club, which uses the donations to pay for gift cards to supply those in need with groceries and other items during the holidays.
And while the fundraising events haven’t changed, the elves have. Elves Club president Lynn Nestman stepped down this year, and in her stead is Mike Doyle with Re/Max City Realty in Gibsons. He and 30 other Re/Max agents are organizing Crash the Coast.
“It’s going to be a very busy week from this weekend to next weekend for all of us at Re/Max and the Elves Club,” Doyle said. “It is one of the oldest charities on the Sunshine Coast. It’s exciting to be a part of that, but we’re also a little bit nervous or anxious just because it’s our first time.”
The Elves Club had two other firsts this year – they appeared in Sechelt’s Festival of Lights parade, and the Sechelt Downtown Business Association became involved as donors.
Applications to be part of the program close on Dec. 11. Information about how to apply and how to donate can be found at www.elvesclub.ca
