A local charity needs the community’s compassion as its annual fundraising event nears. To raise money for those who are most vulnerable in our region, the Busby Centre Annual Streetlight Gala is just a week away. Proudly supported by CTV Barrie, Pure Country 106 and Bounce 104.1, guests can expect a packed evening filled with an exquisite dining experience, inspirational keynote speaker, silent auction and live entertainment. Dinner will feature a luxurious three-course meal from the best of the best in this year’s Iron Chef competition, an event that also supported the Busby Centre. Cooks from across the region competed in a culinary showdown earlier this year to see who could whip up the best dish. Guests will be served the winning menu, consisting of an appetizer of roasted heirloom beet and goat cheese salad, a main course of lemon fire salmon and lemon-kissed chicken, and for dessert, coconut panna cotta. A series of silent auction items will be up for grabs, including Toronto Raptors tickets donated by Real Estate Broker Peggy Hill. The evening’s emcee will be CTV’s Sarah Freemark. The Busby Centre, a registered charity located in Barrie, provides essential support and resources to people experiencing homelessness and poverty in our region. The goal of the evening is to raise much-needed funds for the centre. Busby Centre Executive Director Sarah Peddle says while the centre has received funds from the County of Simcoe and, it also needs support from the community and donors. “It really does take a village,” Peddle tells CTV News. “We need more funds to make sure we’re constantly looking at how to get people back to housing.” Peddle says the drop-in centre is “busting at the seams” as the cost of community meals is increasing, making these kinds of fundraisers critical. “Nights like this are super important because it brings the community together, not just to understand the work that we’re doing, but to celebrate the really important work we’re doing in the community,” Peddle says. The Busby Centre Annual Streetlight Gala is taking place at Tangle Creek Golf Club in Thornton on Fri., Oct. 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Limited tickets are available and can be purchased through Zeffy. Proceeds will go to support the Busby Centre’s Social Service Hub. As of Friday, $12,250 has been raised with the goal being $80,000. “The only true solution to homelessness is housing,” Peddle says.
