If you like ice fishing and feeding the hungry, Steve Featherstone has a raffle for you.
Featherstone owns and operates the Reptile Adventure Camp in Bonfield, and he and his wife Holly might have two of the warmest hearts in the town.
Once again, they are putting their efforts towards raising funds for the Bonfield Food Bank.
Their original goal was to raise $2,000 but that number has already been surpassed, and the total to date is $2,345 with still a week left to go.
Featherstone explained that in the past he collected food donations for the food bank, and the drive went well, but he came to understand that most food banks prefer receiving cash as they can often make the dollars spread further.
So Featherstone put cash on this year’s wish list, and decided to hold a raffle where people could buy one ticket for $10, three for $25 and ten tickets for $50.
And the winner receives? Whoever’s number is drawn will receive a three day rental of a four person fishing hut.
The hut, known as “The Jiggerknot,” is on Lake Nosbonsing, and “fully equipped” for anglers.
It’s been donated to the cause by Fish On Outfitters, and the winner will get to move into the hut from noon Friday, February 25 to noon Sunday, February 27.
The ice bound holiday is valued at around $720 Featherstone said, adding there are more perks to the prize as well.
Backwoods Gunsmithing and Outdoors has included a $180 ice fishing basket, New Ontario Brewing Company has tossed in a $100 gift card, and Rolly’s Pitstop is giving the winner two large pizzas.
It’s not over yet. Dinner Bell Restaurant and Motel is offering four dinners and two appetizers, Gagne’s Red and White Store has put in a $100 gift card, and the Passionate Redneck donated an ice fishing prize package.
The entire prize “will be worth more than $1,000,” Featherstone enthused, and all profits from raffle tickets go directly to the food bank.
Tickets can be purchased through e-transfer to [email protected], but be sure to include “food bank, your name, and your phone number” in the memo line, Featherstone noted.
Credit cards are also accepted via Featherstone’s Reptile Camp website at www.reptilecamp.ca, or you can call 905-531-5367 to make an arrangement to buy tickets in cash.
The winning ticket will be drawn on December 28 at 11:00 and will be streamed on Reptile Adventure Camp’s Facebook page.
Featherstone will contact the winner as well, in case you miss the broadcast.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
