This is one of many themed baskets available during the Our Lady of the Lake Parish fundraiser available through June 13. (KIM ROOD PHOTO)
SOUTHWICK – Our Lady of the Lake Parish is hosting a raffle to help to bridge the gap in funding created during the pandemic.
Parish Administrative Assistant Kim Rood said tickets for the raffle baskets are $5 each or $40 for 10 and are on sale now at the church after Mass as well as online at ollsouthwick.org. Tickets for a “door prize” are also on sale for $10 each. Door prizes include four tickets to the July 24 Red Sox/Yankees game at Fenway Park, a $500 Amazon card and $250 Airbnb gift card.
The raffle will be drawn June 13 following 10 a.m. Mass. Winners do not need to be present.
Rood said this is the parish’s first raffle basket fundraiser.
“We are hoping to it will be successful,” said Rood. “Three of us came up with the idea in about five minutes of brainstorming and within 24 hours we had it in place. The proceeds will go to our church to help with the deficit caused by the losses incurred from the Covid ‘craziness’.”
Rood said Our Lady of the Lake has “fared okay” since COVID-19 hit Massachusetts “but the impact is being felt especially with the rise in costs for fuel and basic everyday items — I know we are all feeling that impact,” said Rood.
Organizers hope the raffle baskets will not only raise funds but bring joy to the recipient.
“We really just want this to be a fun and exciting opportunity for everyone to do something different and get away from the screen for a minute, think outside the box, be creative and imaginative,” she said, noting that the public is encouraged to purchase tickets. “The door prizes were chosen with that in mind . . . giving people a chance to go out and ‘BE’ again. We are hoping that the Door Prize raffle will encourage people as well, considering the grand prize is a four-pack of tickets to the Red Sox vs Yankees game at Fenway on Saturday, July 24.”
Raffle baskets are valued at $50 and up and include various themes, such as an artist basket, baby basket, baking basket, fishing basket, haircare, wine, gardening and more.
Donations of raffle basket items are being accepted until May 23. Basket photos will be posted on the parish Facebook page.
The parish has returned to in-person and virtual streaming for its Praise & Worship ministry on the first Tuesday of every month as well a Rosary conference call on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. To join the Rosary, call 712-432-3900, Conference ID: 226058. The call begins at 6:50 p.m.
Our Lady of the Lake is at 224 Sheep Pasture Road.
