By Katie Freeman For The Journal A ‘Charity Takeover Night’ to benefit the River City Vineyard will be held Nov. 1, just in time to mark the organization’s 35th anniversary.
By Katie Freeman
For The Journal
A ‘Charity Takeover Night’ to benefit the River City Vineyard will be held Nov. 1, just in time to mark the organization’s 35th anniversary.
The event, hosted by the Refined Fool, invites local charities to take over the taproom for an evening, with 15% of sales going directly to that organization.
“This is our first charity takeover night with Refined Fool,” said Worship Pastor Renee Card, who is organizing the event for River City.
The event runs from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and boasts a number of activities, including a 50/50 draw, a silent auction, and live band — composed of musicians from the church — featuring a mix of classic rock, Christian, country and original music. “
We are trying to have something for everybody,” Card added.
The silent auction features a gently used $900-value electric guitar donated by a musician friend of Card’s; and guests don’t need to be present to win — so, if time is limited, popping by to support will do the trick, said Card.
“One hundred percent of what is raised from that will go to operational costs. The more people we get through the doors, the more we get to keep doing what we do.”
Those costs include running the shelter, food bank, free store and shower programs as well as repairing the gymnasium’s leaking roof.
A $1-million expansion and renovation is underway at River City, despite intentions to have the building finished last spring.
“Obviously, we are trying to get the extra beds open in our shelter expansion before the weather gets colder,” said Card. “There is just a huge increase in homelessness in Sarnia and across the province as well. You hate to be outside and see individuals not have anywhere to stay.
“And we know we can’t house everybody,” she added. “But we certainly want to be part of the solution to help.”
In addition to the charity night, River City is celebrating a milestone in the community. The church, which also functions as a community centre and homeless sanctuary, celebrates 35 years in November.
On Sunday, Nov. 5, a celebration service will be held, featuring special guest, worship leader and songwriter David Ruis.
“He is the national director of Vineyard Canada, and he is going to be coming down from B.C.,” Card explained. “He will be speaking, and he will be leading worship that morning as well. He is quite an accomplished musician on his own merit.”
The celebration service is open for anyone to join.
“We just want to make an open invitation to anyone who has been part of River City over the past 35 years or if anybody is wondering and wants to check us out, to certainly come on out to that celebration service,” Card said. “We just want to celebrate the fact that we’ve reached 35 years as a milestone.
“And of course, there is going to be cake,” she added with a laugh. “Because you’ve got to celebrate with cake.”
For more information visit their website: https://www.rcv.org/
