Bel Hume
Special to Tribune/Advisor
Thank you to the people of Williams Lake who have supported the Operation Smile Williams Lake Club.
Recent fundraising events in Williams Lake have raised enough money to pay for 18 disadvantaged children around the world to have life-changing cleft palate/cleft lip surgery.
It costs $240 for each child’s surgery.
This year our fundraiser was a barbecue chilli dinner, camouflage fashion show and live auction held at Calvary Tabernacle Church on April 30.
We have to thank the stores – Chilcotin Guns, Bob’s Shoes and Apparel, and Blue Mountain Gunsmiths for participating in their first fashion show.
The models were from the Sea Cadets, Rocky Mountain Rangers and Tyler Boucher and his daughters Chloe and Machenna.
Cecile James did an excellent job as master of ceremonies.
Gabe Zamorano did the presentation about Operation Smile.
Our Operation Smile volunteers came together to put on a fabulous event, for there is so much more that goes on behind the scenes in our event.
Thank you to everyone who gave of their time and helped and to Calvary Tabernacle Church and staff who made it possible, as well as Hub International Barton Insurance.
Several people purchased a surgery.
The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 139 purchased two surgeries at $480 and others made donations as well.
God bless you as you have changed a child’s life forever.
Thank you to Laura Zimmerman for her kindness and heartfelt story.
During the live auction she bid on a Tonka grader that was our son’s and was refurbished by Dr. Oosthuizen.
In the end with our Williams Lake and District Credit Union coin container raising $1070.60 dollars, added to funds raised at the chilli dinner, auction and fashion show evening we raised enough money for 18 children’s surgeries.
The container will remain at the Williams Lake and District Credit Union to continue to support Operation Smile and the children in need.
There is a container at Downtown Service as well.
If anyone would like to become a volunteer for Operation Smile please call Bel Hume at 250-398-8740 or Penny McIntosh at 250-1041 or Kathy Allan at 250-267-3756.