RELEASE: Port Cares’ 50/50 Launches April 1st
March 31, 2023 – Port Colborne
Port Cares’ popular lottery launches on Saturday, April 1st and guarantees a take-home of at least $5,000 in ‘Spring Ka-Ching!’
Go to www.portcares5050.ca starting at 12:01am to get your tickets. Anyone in Ontario 18+ can purchase at three different price points:
• 5 tickets for $10;
• 20 tickets for $20; or
• 100 tickets for $40.
A nearly bird draw will take place at 2:00pm on April 14th, to win a gift valued at $250. The lucky Early Bird winner will also be eligible to win the cash draw. The draw for the ‘Spring Ka-Ching’ takes place at 2:00pm on April30th.
Weather-permitting, the agency hopes to get outside to sell tickets in their parking lot on market days in April. Those dates will be April 6th, 14th, 21st,and 28th. Folks can use cash outside or debit / credit inside the main Port Cares entrance at 92 Charlotte Street, Port Colborne.
The biggest draw winner so far took home almost $43,000. A total of $259,405 has been won in Port Cares’ draws which began in the summer of 2020.
“Our online draws have been such a great success and have become our flagship fundraiser since the pandemic,” says Christine Clark Lafleur, executive director at Port Cares. “Spring is in the air and we can’t wait to see who will take home the Spring Ka-Ching!”
Last year 1,700 people were registered to receive assistance through the food bank – that was up by more than 400 people at the beginning of the pandemic. Now the number of local residents has jumped exponentially to 2,650 – of which more than 34 per cent are children living in low income households. “To put it in perspective our food bank is helping at least one out of eight local residents in Port Colborne.” Port Cares also assists the residents of Wainfleet and right now 10% of Fleeters are turning to our food bank to get by.
Port Cares does not receive government funding for its poverty-relief services which includes meals, the food bank and other family supports. They rely on donations and fundraising events like this lottery to help people in need.
“The draws have been a lifeline to support our foodbank, hot meal program, school lunch program and more.”
– Christine Clark Lafleur
Winners Re-cap:
September 2020 – Michael Mamo of Port Colborne:$19,830
January 2021 – Marion Minor of Port Colborne: $27,465
June 2021 – Tami Reimer of Welland: $42,660
Sept 2021 – Bruce Wilson of Port Colborne: $34,155
January 2022 – Kathy Pitkin of Port Colborne: $37,505
April 2022 – Suzette Lemay of Welland: $27,795
August 2022 – Rebecca Clark of Welland: $38,805
January 2023 – Kristy Kosanovich of Niagara Falls: $31,190
Since 1986, Port Cares has offered a multitude of services for people, young and old, not only in Port Colborne, but also across Niagara including Lincoln, West Lincoln, Welland, Pelham and Fort Erie. They offer housing, employment training, a foodbank, Niagara Youth Justice services, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, a meal program, utility assistance, counselling and crisis services- as well as seasonal programs like Coats for Kids, Give a Gift and more. Their services are wide-ranging – the need is undeniable.
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Photos are available upon request.
Interview contact:
Christine Clark Lafleur
Executive Director, Port Cares
905-834-3629 ext. 248
92 Charlotte Street, Port Colborne, ON L3K 3E1
