It’s called Give Back Sundays an opportunity for local charities and not-for-profits to receive proceeds from food sales at Horsethief Creek Pub & Eatery in Radium Hot Springs. Owner Patrick Tolchard explains that the program allows for local charities to receive 15 per cent of proceeds from all food sales on any charity’s given Sunday. The idea came about when new owners took over the Horsethief Creek Pub in the fall of 2015 and were trying to think of ways to draw more people in.
Why don’t we start a program that supports the local community and sort of builds that stronger sense and creates relationships with other organizations. We came up with the idea of actually giving back 15 per cent of our food sales, said Mr. Tolchard.
When the program first started, Mr. Tolchard was approaching local charities and offering the Give Back Sundays program to them. Now, the program has grown to 22 registered local charities and not-for-profits. Give Back Sundays run from September to May with the last Sunday being just this past weekend on May 29th.
How the program works is an interested charity, not-for-profit or group looking to host a fundraiser contacts Mr. Tolchard. Once the organization is registered, they get put into the Sunday rotation, which ensures every group gets an equal amount of Sundays.
It’s all in the organizations hands once they register, so it’s up to them how they promote it. We’ll throw it up on social media and stuff. The end of the day, the more they promote it and the more they push their date, the more they’re going to get out of it, said Mr. Tolchard.
To date, the program has raised a total $11,742.76 for all the charities involved. With all 22 groups participating, the number only allows for two Sundays a year for each group to have a day, something Mr. Tolchard hopes will change moving into the future years of the program.
Continued growth and then, hopefully, other restaurants in the valley will get involved with us. We can split the numbers that we have to spread it out a little bit so more organizations can get into it more times a year, said Mr. Tolchard. Every little bit helps. That was the idea behind this, to form those relationships and build a stronger sense of community.
The Horsethief Creek Pub & Eatery will continue the Give Back Sundays program in September 2016. Any local charities, not-for-profits and fundraising groups are encouraged to contact Horsethief Creek Pub to register for next years program by emailing Mr. Tolchard at [email protected].
