A handful of notable community figures made a splash for cash at the ninth annual Hometown For Hunger fundraiser on Aug. 7 at Denham Ford dealership in Cranbrook.
East Kootenay MLA Tom Shypitka, Sparwood councillor and NDP MLA candidate Sam Atwal, Conservative Party MLA candidate Pete Davis, Cranbrook Bucks Hockey Club vice president Breanne Lieuwen, Pattison Media executive Amie Lubbers and Denham parts manager Corey Ford were among those who took turns jumping into a dunk tank filled with ice cold water to raise money for charity.
Attendees raised $1,000 to see Shypitka to complete the tank challenge with his suit on, and $2,000 to see Lieuwen take the plunge.
The event was organized by Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies, Denham Ford, Pattison Media and The Salvation Army.
Community Foundation executive director Lynnette Wray said their goal is raise at least $8,000 this year. Proceeds from the event will be placed in the StellarVista Credit Union Endowment Fund, to be donated to The Kootenay Valley Salvation Army, which operates in Cranbrook and Fernie.
"It's much needed support. The cost of food has gone up and also the need of the community has increased," she said.
The Salvation Army prepares and delivers meals and also operates a lunch program at local schools. Major Rick Robins said demand for their services has increased at least 30 per cent in the last year, so funds from the event are a welcome donation.
"The rise in the cost of living, it's exponentially gone up, which makes it more difficult for people to be able to just make it," he explained. "Our wages aren't going up to match and the more we bump the wages up, the more everything else goes up."
Robins said the Salvation Army currently serves meals five days per week in the community, but would like to add on a sixth day if they get more volunteers. Their teams serves approximately 5,000 people per month.
Inflation has also led operational costs to increase. Robins said that it currently costs them $140,000 per year to run their school lunch program, whereas it used to operate on $50,000.
There were a few different activities at the event, including a timbit eating challenge and a classic car show courtesy of the Rockin' in the Rockies Car Club. Gouda Vibes food truck and Mr. Mike's Steakhouse served burgers and grilled cheese for charity.
When the event started nearly a decade ago, the goal was to raise $500, and Wray said she's pleased to see funding and support increase steadily over the years.
