PORT TOWNSEND — The second annual Festival of Lights raised $1,350 for the Port Townsend Winter Shelter — and will provide the winner of the top raffle prize with a Victoria vacation.
Stone Spicer of Port Townsend won the grand prize of a Victoria Getaway in the raffle at the Festival of Lights on Dec. 2-3, said Dianne Diamond, festival co-chairwoman.
He will enjoy a two-night stay at the Hotel Grand Pacific, passage for two on the MV Coho ferry and passes to both Butchart Gardens and the Victoria Butterfly Gardens.
Half the raffle and a tenth of the rest of the proceeds from the festival at the Masonic Lodge went to support the winter shelter.
Last year, Unity — which organizes the festival as its major annual fundraiser — gave the shelter a tenth of the proceeds.
This year, a cut in federal funds prompted a greater response from Unity, Diamond said.
The winter shelter — which opened in November in the basement of the Marvin G. Shields Memorial American Legion Post 26 Hall at 209 Monroe St. in Port Townsend — is funded primarily by private donations, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency has in the past provided $3,500 annually.
That money has been cut this year to $600, said Carl Hanson, co-chairman of the Community Outreach Association Shelter Team, or COAST.
COAST, Olympic Community Action Programs and the American Legion Post operate the temporary shelter, which offers a free hot meal and a warm place to sleep to those who need it every night through mid-March.
Hanson recently was presented with a $1,350 check from the Festival of Lights, Diamond said.
The rest of the proceeds — $6,000 after expenses — benefits Unity programs.
For more information about Unity, visit www.unitypt.org.
