The Fairfield by Marriott hotel is helping guests get into the spirit of giving through its Christmas ornament fundraiser.
The hotel located at 8 Mulcahy Ct. in west Orillia is asking guests and community members to purchase an ornament on their charity tree for $5 or three for $12. Guests can also bring in a non-perishable food item. All donations will be given to the Sharing Place Food Centre.
The fundraiser will run through the first week of January.
“It’s going really well,” said hotel general manager Michelle Weber. “This is a great chance for people who have never been on the property to come in, see it, and make a donation to the food bank.”
Guests who donate to the fundraiser will have their names entered in a draw for a chance to win 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
“It’s an incentive to help them give back to the community,” Weber said.
Weber says she takes giving back to the community seriously. Each year, she hosts two major charity events through the hotel. She also participates in other local fundraising and charity events around the community.
“We are always about giving here,” she said. “It’s been a rough couple of years for people, and with the cost of living and everything going up in price, it’s been tough.”
She says $400 to $500 has been raised so far in monetary and food donations and she is hoping to hit the $800 mark.
“We don’t really have a goal,” she said. “Whatever we can get will be great, but we want to give as much as we can.”
For those who would like to donate food items, Weber says pasta, soup, peanut butter, and canned beans are the items that are most appreciated.