The Bears Den Restaurant at Huntsville Place Mall was awash in purple on Saturday, April 13. The Mad Hatter, Alice and the Queen of Hearts even made an appearance, à la Alice in Wonderland’s tea party. But the occasion wasn’t a literary one, it was to raise funds for Hospice Huntsville’s annual Hike for Hospice.
The hike is a major fundraiser for the organization and its residential hospice, Algonquin Grace. Fundraising for the hike includes the Purple Tea Party and Silent Auction, purple boots stationed all around town to gather donations in the weeks prior to the hike, and the hike itself, which this year occurs on Sunday, May 5.
The Purple Tea Party was a sold-out affair, with 120 attendees enjoying dainty sandwiches, coffee and tea courtesy of the Bears Den and sweet treats from Whimsical Bakery, all served up by Bears Den staff and Hospice volunteers.
For Owen MacKinnon, co-owner of the Bears Den with Pat Hawes and chef Brian Demers, the tea party has special significance. His mom, Dorothy MacKinnon, was a resident at Algonquin Grace.
“Everybody there was welcoming,” said MacKinnon, adding that the business has supported Hospice Huntsville ever since.
Melissa Polischuk thanks (from left) Bears Den co-owners Owen MacKinnon and Pat Hawes, dining room manager Sandra McGregor, and chef and co-owner Brian Demers for their support. MacKinnon’s mother was a resident at Algonquin Grace residential hospice.
The silent auction that accompanied the tea was held in a storefront donated by Huntsville Place Mall. A record 247 items were donated by local businesses and individuals.
The purple tea party silent auction had the most items ever this year: 247
“We have a small but mighty committee,” said Sandra Rosewarne, Hospice Huntsville’s signature events coordinator. “We try to make it a beautiful event for people, and try not to lose sight of the fact that this is for Hospice to generate money to keep our doors open. The volunteers are critical, and also the sponsors in the community that support us and the Bears Den owners who opened their doors to us.”
Muskoka Medical Centre Pharmacy was once again the event’s signature sponsor; gold sponsors were Billingsley Funeral Home, Kimberly-Clark, MBRP and The Miller Law Group.
Ernie Martin (left) was celebrating his 88th birthday at the tea party with (clockwise from his left) Mya and Leah Bradley. Darlene and John Ballantine, Debbie Bradley, Chace Ball and June Martin
Linda Brodie (left) was surprised at the tea party by friends Kelly McKeown and Judy Radway from Mississauga and Brampton respectively
Avery Adams (right) with Connie Gould was excited to take home a purple balloon. She even asked for one for her older sister, Darian.
These ladies in purple support the tea party every year (clockwise from left) Willie Lummiss, Carol Corry, Michelle Field, Pauline Diamond, Lyn Rogal, Jane Hiscox and Donna Hughes
Every year, community support for the tea party and silent auction has raised thousands of dollars, and this year was no different.
“The Purple Tea Party and Silent Auction was a tremendous success—tickets sold out for the tea party ahead of time, we had more auction items than last year, and we are anticipating results to be over $13,000,” said Melissa Polischuk, fund development and public relations coordinator for Hospice Huntsville. The organization must raise 60 per cent of its operating costs each year. All of its services and programs are offered for free.
“So many people that you talk to have been touched by hospice, whether it’s our hospice in Huntsville or another hospice or palliative care organization in another city or town,” adds Polischuk. “I think people realize more and more how much support we need from the community to keep Algonquin Grace open and all of our programs and services free of charge. People are passionate about it.”
(From left) Sandra Rosewarne, June Banks, Melissa Polischuk and Tom Banks ensured party-goers had a great time
Next up is the 2019 Hike for Hospice Huntsville. There’s still time to register as an individual or as a team, or you can support the event by dropping your spare change or more in one of the purple boots at local retailers around town. For more information, visit hospicehuntsville.com.
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