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Date: 1/6/2021
WESTFIELD – Throughout January, the Westfield Senior Center will be selling bundles of raffle tickets for a daily calendar drawing in February for gift cards from businesses in Westfield.
Tina Gorman, the executive director for the Council on Aging, said anyone interested in buying tickets should come with cash in hand during the Senior Center’s daily meal pickup.
“The cost is $5 for sheet of 25 tickets. Participants must pay in cash and tickets may be purchased during the Senior Center’s daily curbside meal pickup. Participants should have their money, with exact change, ready if you wish to participate,” she said.
If anyone purchasing tickets is not picking up a meal, Gorman said they should come at the end of the meal pick up period, between 11:30 and 11:45 a.m.
Gorman also said the center will be strictly enforcing social distancing guidelines when buying tickets or picking up gift cards.
“Selling the tickets curbside offers a level of protection. Participants are reminded to wear a mask when they come through the line and roll their vehicle window down,” she said.
Each gift card will be worth $25 and will be for a variety of businesses.
“Each gift card is worth $25 and there will be one winner each day. So there will be 28 opportunities to win a gift card for Big Y, CVS Pharmacy, Two Rivers Burrito Co., Rosewood Home and Gifts, The Tavern, and more,” she said.
Gorman explained that all the proceeds from the fundraiser will go to the Friends of the Westfield Senior Center.
“The mission of the Friends group is to expand and enhance the Council on Aging programs and services. During the pandemic, the Friends group has provided funds for a wide variety of both entertainment as well as fitness classes on Channel 15. They also funded a new beverage center which was installed in the Senior Center Great Room in the fall,” she said.
Once the daily announcements begin in February, winners will have several options for picking up their gift cards.
“The winners may pick up curbside Monday through Friday between 11:30 and 11:45 a.m. or they can ring the doorbell between 9 and 10:30 a.m. and between noon and 3 p.m. for prize retrieval,” Gorman said.
During such a dark time as a result of the ongoing pandemic, Gorman said she hopes the fundraiser gives people a chance to participate in a safe, lighthearted event.
“As we all deal with the tragedies and challenges that the pandemic has forced upon us, this fundraiser offers a bit of lighthearted fun. Those who would like to participate have an entire month to purchase tickets, so they can choose a clear day to take a field trip to the Senior Center. And in February those who bought tickets can sit back and wait for the phone to ring announcing their gift card prize,” she said.
Anyone interested in purchasing tickets for the calendar drawing has until Jan. 29 to do so.