United Way to help you ‘Paint the Town Red’

Have you ever wondered what it really means to paint the town red? Well, now’s your chance to find out.

The United Way of Lethbridge and South Western Alberta presents “Paint the Town Red,” which provides an opportunity for people to eat, drink, shop and support local organizations on Friday, with a portion of sales going to the United Way and the many organizations it helps support.

Participating businesses have signed on to donate either a portion of the total day’s sales, or a portion of the sales from a select product or menu item.

Participating locations include: Big Al’s Music & Games (10 per cent record sales); Brown’s Socialhouse (West and South Lethbridge); How Sweet Inc. (10 per cent sales); Plum Restaurant (percentage of Paint the Town Red drink special); Round Table Board Gamerie; Simply Delivery (100 per cent of delivery fees); The Zoo (ULSU) (50 perc ent caesars, red foods); Theoretically Brewing Inc. (10 per cent sales); U of L Bookstore (15 per cent on regularpriced clothing); and Water Tower Grill (100 per cent on featured entrée and drink).

In addition, tickets are available for the first Paint the Town Red Historical Nonprofit and Beer Tour. Guests will visit four locations on the walking tour through downtown Lethbridge, hear colourful stories about Lethbridge’s non-profit history from Belinda Crowson, and sample a variety of beers, guided by Roy Pogorzelski.

Money raised through the event will go toward local programs for people and families supported by United Way in the areas of poverty reduction, building healthy communities and encouraging positive child and youth development. Programs supported by United Way help thousands of people each year.

United Way of Lethbridge and South Western Alberta is one of more than 100 locally operating United Ways across Canada. The organization works to identify the causes of the most significant local issues and develops strategies to address them. It pulls together the financial aid and human resources the community needs to improve the day-to-day life of individuals and families.

Since 1941, United Way — Community Chest as it was known back then — has maintained that collective action is the best way to improving people’s lives, en masse and long term. It’s vision is for communities where everyone works as a team to make sure poverty is temporary, individuals and families live healthy lifestyles and children have the tools they need to reach their full potential.