Elena Rardon
Special to the Mirror
Consider going out for dinner next week when Dining Out for Life comes to Campbell River.
Dining Out for Life is an annual fundraising event that raises money for AIDS service organizations.
On April 30, Campbell River residents will be able to eat out at participating restaurants and simultaneously donate towards AIDS Vancouver Island (AVI) —with no additional charge.
Twenty-five percent of all proceeds made at each restaurant will be donated to AVI. The money will go towards programming including food, advocacy, travel, and community education.
“It’s about helping us fund projects and the needs of our service clients,” said Leanne Wingert, a counsellor for AVI Campbell River.
“It all stays local.”
This will be the tenth year AIDS Vancouver Island will put on Dining Out for Life on the Island.
“There has been lots of support from Campbell River restaurants and community for all of those ten years—for which we are very grateful!” said James Boxshall, Manager of Fund Development and Volunteer Services at AIDS Vancouver Island.
This year, the Royal Coachman Inn and Salmon Point Restaurant and Pub will be participating in the event.
“I’d seen Dining Out for Life advertised in restaurants in Vancouver,” said Theresa Marson, manager of the Royal Coachman.
“And I thought it was a really good cause.
“After we’d done it once, we enjoyed it so much that we’ve done it every year since.”
Said Marson about the restaurant’s plans for the event, “We’ve got a lot of really great dinner specials on that night.” She added that reservations are recommended.
Anyone can also make a donation via entry forms available at the local AVI office and at the restaurant. Those who wish to make a donation can have their names entered in a draw for the Kingfisher Oceanside Resort and Spa.
“It’s a community event,” said Wingert. “It’s about the folks who are benefitting from it directly, but it also benefits the community as a whole.”
She encouraged everyone to come out and support it. “It’s important to have events that can include everybody—including youth and children.”
Since last fall’s first Dinner for Homelessness, Wingert says about 130 youth from School District 72 and North Island College have come through the local AVI office for information and to get involved with local events.
For more information about Dining Out for Life, or AIDS Vancouver Island, contact Leanne Wingert at 250-830-0787.