The biggest annual fundraiser for the Martensville and Warman KidSport charities is back in business.
Raffle tickets for the 100-square foot playhouse, currently on display at the Martensville A&W parking lot until the draw on September 16, went on sale online and at the A&W earlier this month.( Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased online at www.warmankidsport.ca)
The playhouse, valued at $10,000, doubles as a storage shed and comes complete with electrical outlets.
The playhouse was built by Martensville carpenter Marty Goertzen, who donated five solid weeks of labour this past spring to complete the playhouse in time for the summer fundraising campaign. Corporate donations from Martensville Building and Home Supply, Martensville realtor Richard Reimer, Martensville A&W and the Clark’s Crossing Gazette helped bring the project to fruition.
Since it was launched in 2016 by Martensville A&W owners Brian and Bernice Buffin, the KidSport Playhouse raffle has raised over $43,000 for the local KidSport charities in Martensville, Warman and other smaller communities in the region.
In past years, industrial arts students at Martensville and Warman High Schools built the project under the supervision of teachers. But since the COVID-19 pandemic, Goertzen has built the playhouse on his own.
In 2016, the raffle raised $10,580; in 2017 it generated $7,769; in 2018 a total of $13,173 was raised and in 2019, it raised $12,432. The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the raffle from taking place in 2020. It was held in 2021 but lingering pandemic difficulties prevented it from being staged in 2022. Organizers are optimistic this year marks the return of the raffle on a regular basis.
In 2021, the Martensville A&W was awarded the A&W ‘Community Champion’ Award for the initiative. The project has also been recognized nation-wide by KidSport Canada. The tradition begun by Brian and Bernice Buffin, who retired from their business a few years ago, is being carried on by their daughter Rachelle Buffin, who now owns the restaurant.
KidSport charities provide funds to help cover organized sport registration fees so families in need are able to enroll their children in those activities.
The Martensville-Warman KidSport charity is hoping to raise over $12,000 in this year’s raffle.