On November 2nd, Nanoose Community Services (NCS) held the Neighbours Helping Neighbours Gala at the Tigh-na-Mara Resort. The event was a huge success, with a large turnout of community members and local businesses coming together to support the important work of NCS.
The gala was a fundraiser for NCS, and featured an exciting live auction as the highlight of the evening. The auction, fabulously run by Patrick Murray, featured unique and diverse items, including vacations, special experiences, gift cards, artwork, and spa packages. The live auction was a huge success, with many guests going home with some amazing items. There was also a Mystery Gift table where attendees had a chance to buy a ticket and choose which gift they wanted to unwrap.
The gala also featured a speech from NCS Chair, Fiona, sharing updates on the organization’s progress over the past years through the pandemic and outlined plans for the future.
One heartwarming moment of the night was when the auction kicked off with a very special piece and an important story of why NCS does what it does. The piece was a large painting, meticulously crafted with an incredible colours. Guests learned that the painting was created and donated by a Food Program participant, a senior gentleman living alone and well below the poverty line in the back of a camper van. A Food Program volunteer, an accomplished painter and retired nurse, caught wind of his talent a couple years ago and began mentoring him. Through their relationship and connection over art and the support of NCS, this neighbour has flourished. His artwork auctioned for $800 in a bidding war, all of which he insisted be donated to NCS.
Another fun and exciting point in the night was when a Quality Foods gift card got auctioned off, just for the winner to turn around and donate it again to the auction. And then it happened again and again and again! We were thrilled with the buzz in the room and how much that gift card raised by the end of the night!
Overall, the gala was such a great success, bringing together members of the community to support a worthy cause. Nanoose Community Services is an important organization that provides vital services to those in need, and events like the gala help to raise awareness and support for the organization’s work.
Thank you to every guest, volunteer, donor, sponsor in making this evening such a success!
