A group of White Rock neighbours are turning a regular dinner party into a fundraising event for the Sources South Surrey/White Rock Food Bank, and they hope the idea will inspire others to do the same.
Sandy Byer, who lives in the Victoria Terrace condominium building, says the idea was mentioned at a pool party last summer.
Byer said Victoria Terrace residents get together every so often to host a pot-luck and mingle near the pool, but the residents wanted to also host an event in the winter.
On Feb. 9, the residents will use a floor of the apartment building for a “roaming meal” party, but this time organizers will charge attendees $20 to participate.
Byer has started a party planning committee for the event, and the money collected is to be donated to the food bank.
“It’s a fun thing to do. And just adding the other element, a consciousness that there are people in our community that can’t afford to do that… We can help, it just seems to be the right thing to do,” Byer told Peace Arch News.
Byer, with the help of her son, started a Facebook page and website for their dinner party, called Feasts for Friends (www.feastsforfriends.org).
Byer said “there’s no structure here” when it comes to their particular event, but she’s hopeful the idea of dinner party fundraisers will spread.
“It would be really wonderful if our community – the greater White Rock community – gets involved in it. But it would be great if other people, in other places, do the same thing,” she said.
“This could be worldwide.”
Byer said there are 50 suites in the Victoria Terrace buildings, and they hope 30 people will attend.
“But even if it’s 25 people, that’s still $500. We’ll see what happens.”
After the event, Byer said they intend to post pictures and additional information on the Feast for Friends website to encourage others to create their own event.
Sources South Surrey/White Rock Food Bank manager Jaye Murray said the dinner-party fundraiser is a fantastic idea.
“It’s bringing people together around food, and of course it relates to the food bank. It’s a win-win,” Murray said.
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