LANGLEY - Thank You for Caring, the third annual Mayors' Wives Tea, has a winning formula so don't expect much tinkering with the event, keeping it to a nice Sunday afternoon tea/luncheon with entertainment and affable emcee Jim McGregor. Organizers are keeping to 500 tickets max for the Nov. 23 event at Coast Hotel and Convention Centre, even though they could likely sell more.
But one thing will be new this year, to help those who want to ensure they are properly decked out.
"We'll have fascinators for sale," noted Debbie Froese.
Froese and Jean Schaffer, married to the Township and City mayors respectively, have enlisted a group of local women to help pull off this fundraiser, for Langley Christmas Bureau.
That includes a great deal of community support that starts well before the event.
Sarah Rind is donating a jewelry package of a sterling silver necklace, bracelet and earings from the Sky Phoenix Wild Star collection. It's valued at $2,000.
Frostings Bakery donates the desserts and other businesses have provided goods.
"People love Christmastime and the Christmas bureau helps so many families in a time of need," Froese said.
She said the goal is to help others have a meaningful Christmas.
"It helps bring awareness about how much need the community has," she said.
Tickets ($25 per person) are available at the Langley Christmas Bureau office (in the former Fields store), the Birthplace of BC Gallery, JD Farms, and Frostings, or by going to Thankyouforcaringachristmastea.com. There will also be $10 tickets for the jewelry draw, door prizes and a silent auction.
Schaffer came on board when former mayor Peter Fassbender went into provincial politics partway through his term, and her husband, Ted Schaffer, became acting mayor.
"I was only too glad to hop on board," she said.
Schaffer noted the event is affordable fun and a chance to dress up for a worthy cause.