Uses winnings for home repairs
And gives back to Port Cares
(January 3, 2024 - PORT COLBORNE) For Isabell Lott of Port Colborne, there were plenty of tears of joy on New Year’s Day when the long-time Port Colborne senior received the phone call from Port Cares CEO Christine Clark Lafleur to tell her that she was the winner of $24,695 from the 2023 Port Cares Holiday 5050 draw.
“I walked around the house for two hours saying I just can’t believe it. This couldn’t have come at a better time for me,” says Mrs. Lott, a retired widow who has long supported Port Cares. Mrs. Lott intends to use the winnings to make needed home repairs and treat herself to a trip abroad to visit family that she hasn’t seen in many years.
Port Cares 5050 is a vital fundraising initiative that helps the local charity raise the necessary money to deliver important services and programs which relieve the burdens of poverty for low income families and individuals struggling to make ends meet.
“The current economy is putting more pressures on local charities like Port Cares. People have less disposable income. This is the reason we are seeing more people than ever before use our services and a bit less participation in the ability to help out. We’re very hopeful that 2024 brings relief to soaring food and housing costs and reliance on our charity services lessens,” explains Christine Clark Lafleur, Chief Executive Officer of Port Cares. “More and more young working families with children and seniors are coming to the food bank and or using our meal programs simply because they cannot make ends meet.”
Port Cares is a charity and relies on fundraising and donations to help families experiencing poverty. ”We provide groceries and hot meals as South Niagara’s largest food bank. We also provide critical housing, homelessness services, crisis intervention and as well as other basic needs so we had to act fast and effectively to raise funds to keep our doors open with all safety measures in place so we could aid people through what we believed were the worst of times. We never expected that nearly two and half years later we would need to continue to rely on this vital fundraising program because we are helping even more people through these tough times,” adds Clark Lafleur noting that inflation and rising costs of living is the driver behind the new crisis.
The biggest draw winner so far took home almost $43,000 and the total for all 11 draws held since the lottery began $353,185 has been won through jackpot winnings and another $25,600 in early bird prizes.
This holiday season Port Cares provided a traditional Christmas dinner and gifts to 201 local residents and ensured that 632 people living in poverty – of which 559 are children woke up to toys, clothes, food and assorted gifts on Christmas Day.
“No joke here – but our next Port Cares 50 50 Spring Ka-Ching kicks off on Monday, April1, 2024 with all proceeds funding the Port cares Reach Out Centre Food Bank, meal program and family support services.