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Red Deer restaurant hosting fun fundraiser to support mental illness initiatives
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Staffers at Red Deer’s ABC Country Restaurant are in the Christmas spirit this month. They’re helping support the Smiles Through Lindsey Foundation, which will benefit from the upcoming Smiles Thru Gingerbread corporate challenge at the restaurant.

If you’re looking for a fun way you and your coworkers can give back to the community and support a worthy cause this Christmastime, ABC Country Restaurant has just the ticket.

The popular Red Deer eatery invites you to sign up your four-person team for the inaugural Smiles Thru Gingerbread corporate challenge on Dec. 20, a fundraiser for the Smiles Thru Lindsey Foundation, which supports mental health initiatives in Central Alberta.

It’s a chance for you to hone your gingerbread house decorating skills, do some team-building and hang out with like-minded individuals, all while raising money for the foundation.

Here’s what you’ll get for your $500 donation to the cause for your team:

1. Mix and mingle As a decorator, you’ll enjoy wine and appetizers, courtesy ABC, in advance of the gingerbread project. Talk strategy with your teammates, or give your opponents a friendly ribbing, your choice.

2. Tap into your creative side You’ll be given all the supplies necessary to make your creation as unique as possible

3. Unveil your finished product After the final accents are applied, the homes will be presented, prizes awarded and photos taken of all the entries, followed by more mingling. The gingerbread houses will be displayed in the restaurant Dec. 21-28 and the public is invited to vote on their favourites and make a donation to the cause.

4. Share your handiwork online Your company logo and gingerbread house will be used in upcoming promotions in the Red Deer Advocate and on the Smiles Through Lindsey social media.

“This charity is a very personal one for our staff,” says ABC Country Restaurant co-owner Charles Leclair.

Lindsey More, who took her own life in 2015 after battling depression, was the best friend of a server at ABC. Before her passing, Lindsey talked about wanting to somehow help youth suffering from depression. Her parents, Cindy and Rick More advanced that idea to create the foundation and the ABC staff have leapt on board supporting the cause.

ABC a partner in your community

The gingerbread house building competition is just the latest way ABC Country Restaurant supports you in Central Alberta. They’re a stalwart at Westerner Days, handling the barbecuing during the pony chuckwagon races, and also sponsor many of your local sports teams and school activities.

ABC was one of 20 local restaurants that created gourmet samples recently for the Taste of Red Deer during Festival of Trees, a fundraiser for Red Deer Regional Hospital. They also baked goodies for the Evening of Decadent Desserts for Aspire, a special needs support group, and will be providing the post-game meal for the upcoming Boston Bruins alumni game against the Red Deer HOPE Stars.

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If you’d like to sign up your office, team or community group for this fun fundraiser, call Charles Leclair at the restaurant at 403-358-4280 or email him at abcCountry@telus.net. You can also follow ABC Country Restaurant on Facebook.

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ABC Country Restaurant owners Charles and Nicole Leclair join their daughter, Mylene, in front of the popular Red Deer eatery, which is hosting the inaugural Smiles Thru Gingerbread corporate challenge fundraiser this month.