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Sylvan Lake restaurant starts fundraising challenge

The challenge is expected to take place until mid February
food-donations
Currently, many food donations have been dropped off at Lodge 43 in Sylvan Lake.

Local restaurant Lodge 43 and Tech Heating have partnered to create a new fundraising challenge. 

Owners of Tech Heating Patrick Labelle and Mike Gorecky regularly donate to the local Sylvan Lake Food Bank and wanted a way to highlight the need and get local support for the beginning of the year, owners of Lodge 43 Heather Jones and Trevor Scott said. 

"They reached out to us to create a Burger of the Month for January, and we jumped at the idea."

Labelle and the Lodge 43 owners also thought to take it a step further and follow the food bank challenge that Gasoline Alley Harley Davidson does every year for the Veterans Association Food Bank.

"We reached out for their blessing and Patrick and Mike agreed and away we went," Jones and Scott said. 

When the challenge began on Jan. 1, Lodge 43 tagged five local businesses on social media to bring 24 items in 24 hours to Lodge 43 or Tech Heating. 

Then, each of the five businesses that were tagged tagged five more businesses. 

"The 24-hour deadline is more of a way to get additional businesses challenged quicker," Jones and Scott said. 

So far, approximately 20 businesses have participated in the challenge, and there is still another week to go. 

"We welcome anyone at all to come on in regardless of 'being tagged' and start challenging others too," Jones and Scott said. 

During January, the Burger of the Month, 'The Tech Heater,' was also used to raise funds for the Sylvan Lake Food Bank. 

With each burger sold $2 went towards the fundraiser. 

"We're close to 200 sold so far," Jones and Scott said. 

While the Burger of the Month will change to something new on Feb. 1, Lodge 43 and Tech Heating are running the challenge until the middle of February. 

"As an added incentive, those who make a $25 donation (Food or Monetary) will be entered to win a Red Deer Rebels Luxury Box plus Food and Bev. Voucher (Mar. 8)," Jones and Scott said. 

Then for every additional $25 donated, individuals will receive an added entry into the draw that will be done on Feb. 17 courtesy of Tech Heating. 

For the two businesses, this is a challenge that will be held every January from now on. 

"We hope to see it continue to grow and from the excitement we've seen and the calls we receive from fellow business owners asking to be tagged, we're confident the support will continue," Jones and Scott said. 

More information on the challenge can be found on either Lodge 43 or Tech Heatings's Facebook page. 



Sarah Baker

About the Author: Sarah Baker

I joined Black Press in March 2023 and am looking forward to sharing stories about the local communities.
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