The Lake George Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary is holding its 11th Annual Basket & Desert Day on Sunday, Nov. 4. Dozens of gift baskets, lined up along banquet tables, will replace the emergency vehicles usually parked in the firehouse on Ottawa Street in Lake George Village.
Guests bid on a baskets by dropping a raffle ticket into a paper bag hanging beneath. The bidding period begins at 1 p.m., and drawings begin at 2:30 p.m. with a ticket pulled from each bag. The bidder holding the matching ticket wins that basket.
Admission is $10 per person and includes 25 raffle tickets and desserts. Additional tickets may be purchased for $5 per sheet of 25. Attendance is limited to 200. This year’s event includes three special raffles: A handmade quilt worked by Auxiliary member Emily Manion, a $500 Gift Card from Southwest Airline, and a lottery/cash tree with $150 in scratch-off tickets and $100 cash.
A $5 picnic lunch will be available and includes a hot dog, macaroni salad, chips and a drink. Several merchandise vendors, such as Pampered Chef and Adirondack Seasons, will be offering goods for early holiday shopping.
Basket & Dessert Day is a fundraiser for the Ladies Auxiliary’s Community Needs Fund. “The success of this day allows us to help the community year-round,” says Auxiliary President Beth Brundage. “The income from last year helped us to ‘adopt’ 17 local children at Christmas, with food baskets to their families and 11 Senior citizens. During the last year, we were able to help families in our community who were impacted by house fires and illnesses.” Additionally, the Auxiliary awarded two $500 scholarships to graduating Lake George High seniors.
This year’s Basket & Dessert Day will include a “Fill the Van” challenge. The Auxiliary will be collecting non-perishable food items at the event for distribution to local food pantries, and they request that all those attending bring one item to help with the challenge.
“We are looking forward to another sellout crowd at the firehouse on the 4th,” says Brundage. “The success of the day is not only on us as an Auxiliary but our firefighters who help us, community groups like Bay Ridge Fire, Caldwell Church and others who loan us extra tables and chairs, all those who donate to the baskets and, most importantly, the community that attends that day.”