SACKVILLE, N.B. — Spend $20 and get $75 in coupons and oh yeah, a shot at six valuable prizes including a new vehicle.
Sackville Fire & Rescue’s major fundraiser is back for its 14th year and so far, so good.
“It has been going pretty good. We are selling weekly at the Main Street Esso. Each truck takes a week and we go up once a week and sell tickets and the Esso itself is selling tickets,” department member Laura Thurston said. “Each of our members is also selling tickets.”
The draw takes place on Sept. 21 during Sackville’s annual Fall Fair at 7 p.m. at the Sackville Fire Hall.
Top prize this year is a 2019 Ram 1500 ST Quad Cab 4x4 or another vehicle from any of the Allen Group of Companies including Atlantic Kia, Scotia Hyundai, Amherst Nissan and Amherst Chrysler.
Other prizes include a $3,000 trip voucher from Maritime Travel in Sackville, a 2,000-watt Honda generator from Fort Equipment, $1,000 in gasoline from the Main Street Esso, a DeWalt combo kit from Tantramar Electric or $700 worth of groceries from Rose’s, Your Independent Grocer.
“If you win, your name goes back in for the other prizes,” she said.
Last year, Michelle Casey of Amherst was the grand prize winner, a ticket sold by Thurston.
“She has already called me telling me she wants her same ticket number,” Thurston said.
Like other years, 3,500 tickets are being sold. If 2,800 tickets are not sold by the draw date, the top prize becomes a 50/50 draw instead of a new truck, although Thurston said that has yet to happen in the draw’s history.
While ticket sales were slow at first last year, they sold out and Thurston is optimistic they will sell out again this year. Last year’s sellout was the first time since 2006.
“Ticket sales are going very well,” she said. “We offer sponsorships as well. Businesses can sponsor the ticket draw with the purchase of tickets and we will advertise on their behalf. The sponsorships are going very well and we have a lot of businesses coming on board.”
Each ticket includes eight coupons on the back.
Thurston said a lot of people wait until the last month to buy their tickets, or during the fall fair and the fair’s parade.
“We stop ticket sales at 6 p.m. on the 21st and the draw is at 7,” she said.
Proceeds from the draw will help Sackville Fire & Rescue are being used with the department’s continued development of a training facility. Sackville Fire & Rescue also supports a number of community causes.
“We’re in the process of putting together a training centre. With current environmental regulations we don’t do live burning anymore for training. We’re working toward building a centre. Last year, the money was earmarked toward acquiring the land and this year a portion of the money will go toward that project,” she said. “We also support the community. We give back as much as we can.”
Tickets can be purchased from any fire department member, the Main Street Esso, Aulac Irving Big Stop, UAP/Napa in Sackville, Gary Estabrooks Auto Service and Atlantic Towing/K-D Glass and Accessories on Lorne Street.
