Mickey Wojnarowski and Brendalee Morgan are in need of help from our community as they face new challenges. With Mickey facing the return of the disease Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) into his transplanted liver, and now Brendalee also facing health challenges, two fundraising events will be held giving us all an opportunity to show how much we care. They are considering new options in their current recovery that are not covered by B.C. Medical and so need our support to obtain them.
“We are very overwhelmed by the recent events with our health, but also feel so grateful for the outpouring of support we are receiving from the community,” said Brendalee Morgan.
The first opportunity will be a garage sale to be held at the Farmers’ Market on September 8. Anyone with items to donate for sale should bring them to the Farmers’ Market on September 8 preferably by 7:30 a.m. but by the latest 10 a.m. If you’re unable to drop off items on that morning, please contact Millie at 250-265-4537 to arrange for them to be picked up prior to Friday evening.
Another avenue of support, if you do not have anything to donate, is to go to the Market to check out and buy some of the cool donated items, as all proceeds will go directly to Mickey and Brendalee.
The second event will be a benefit dinner to be held at the Legion on September 22 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dinner tickets will be available at the door, but if you know you will be attending, please call Barbara at 250-265-4429 and let her know your name and the number of people attending so we can prepare enough food.
Barbara Maye herself has found Brendalee and Mickey an inspiration, and decided to contribute her efforts and help with organizing the event.
“I have never met two people who show such grace and positivity in the face of adversity,” said co-organizer Barbara Maye. “They are an inspiration as they continue to draw our community closer with gatherings and celebrations even when they are facing so much.”
Brent Dillon and Julie Dubuc, another set of Nakusp newbies, will be cooking up the food for the evening, a spaghetti dinner for $15 a plate as well as a by-donation bake sale. Anyone wanting to get in on the food volunteering end of the evening can give Brent and Julie a call at 250-265-3835.
It’s a real DIY showcase of local talent, with an open mic up for grabs for anyone to perform whatever entertainment they’ve cooked up in their brain. Bring your music, spoken word, monologue, dance, or anything that you would like to share with the attendees and Mickey and Brendalee. If you’re interested in being part of the show, please contact Cassia at 250-916-9677 (local call).
Cassia Parent is another Nakuspian touched by the couple and decided to help as well.
“We moved here is September and they were the first people to welcome us to the community, inviting us over for dinner and to other gatherings so we could meet others in the community,” said Cassia. “They bridge gaps in this community making us all closer.”
After dinner and the surprise entertainment, DJs will play so we can all get up and dance. There will also be a cash bar, and the opportunity to continue bidding on silent auction items ranging from creative couture, incredible gift certificates, to baked goods, jams and more donated by local people and businesses.
At some point during the evening, the silent auction will be closed and the winning bidders will be announced.
There is still time to both donate to the silent auction as well as bid on the items that are currently on display in the front window of Little Mountain Outdoor Gear. Note that not all items up for action are in the window, but can be viewed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/events/457520760935501/. Both donations and bidding can be done in the store, and bidding will continue as the items will be moved to the benefit dinner.
We are still looking for volunteers to help run the Benefit Dinner. Positions for set up, decorating, take down, bar tending, front desk attendance, stage, and food service are needed. Please contact Barbara at 250-265-4429.
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Note: The print version of this story ran the incorrect dinner price as $25 when it is in fact $15.