Local gala raises $25,000 to help Battlefords area charities

The spirit of Christmas was in the air at a recent gala that helped raise about $25,000 for Battlefords area charities.

This marked the ninth year of the St. Joseph Calasanctius Charity dinner and auction fundraiser which was held recently at the Tropical Inn in North Battleford.

The funds raised will help support many programs and charities, including The Lighthouse Serving the Battlefords, the Soup Kitchen program, and Catholic Family Services of the Battlefords’ programming, which offers family counseling to people of all denominations throughout the area. Funds will also benefit the Operation Christmas Child project.

Parish council chair Jim McLane said the organizing committee didn’t have a fundraising goal, but were more than happy with the amount raised through the event.