One of Calgary’s longest-standing lunch providers is aiming to sauce up their donation methods, this time, allowing donors to test their luck.

Through a raffle, Brown Bagging for Calgary’s kids, or BB4CK, hopes to raise funds to help ensure that Calgary kids have the food they need every school day, according to a press release.

The 50/50 raffle features round-trip flight packages and hot air balloon rides as potential prizes. 

The odds of winning are not one in a melon, as early-bird prizes will be drawn throughout June. One lucky winner will snack the grand prize, a 50/50 split of all ticket proceeds to be drawn on July 4, during the Calgary Stampede parade.

Ticket options begin at $5 and are available for purchase from June 4 – July 4.

The raffle is in partnership with Rogers Media and will be advertised across four Rogers Calgary radio stations.

Executive Director of BB4CK, Stephanie Gauthier, said having the final draw during the parade is an important opportunity, but being community-funded, there is no wrong time to raise money.

“So many people come together for the Stampede, so many people from all around Calgary, all around the province, really, that come for this event,” she said.

 “I think it’s a really neat opportunity just to raise awareness about the work that we do. Really, anytime throughout the year is a good time for us to run events like this.”

Gauthier said that the proceeds from the 50/50 raffle will help support the 7,800 kids who eat BB4CK lunches daily, a number that is expected to increase come September.

“It costs us about $4 a lunch to make and deliver. Even buying two tickets in the 50/50 helps support one child,” she said.

“We anticipate that when we come back to school in September, that (7,800) will increase and our goal is always to be able to meet that need. We work really hard to make sure that as the needs are identified in the schools, or as new schools are coming on board, that we’re not having to wait-list those schools.”

Despite the school year nearing an end, lunch programs continue.

“When the schools wrap up, we actually partner with summer camps and we offer lunch supports directly to kids that are registered in their camps, typically these are low-income camps that we’re supporting,” Gauthier said.

“Really, it’s partnering with places where kids are and that’s always a challenge in the summer. When the schools, that primary access point, are no longer there, it’s trying to figure out where the kids are so that we can meet the need.”

By partnering with summer camps, BB4CK sent out more than 34,000 lunches during the summer months of 2024, according to Gauthier.

Volunteer love felt in lunches across Calgary

Daily, volunteers begin making sandwiches and packing lunches as early as 6:30 a.m. BB4CK lunches consist of a sandwich, a fruit, a vegetable, a snack and a yogurt and are delivered to more than 280 schools across Calgary, according to Gauthier.

BB4CK has over 650 volunteers weekly across its various Calgary kitchens.

Despite the variety of choices, Gauthier said that one particular snack makes kids go nuts.

“Whenever we’re able to do the fresh baking, there really is a big impact on the kids. I think they really do love to see those,” she said.

“Sometimes we’ll bake cheese biscuit scones, blueberry banana muffins, or we’ll bake, no-bake energy balls.”

Gauthier said that BB4CK is always looking for more volunteers and frequently sees their kitchens used as a place for chemistry to rise.

“We have multiple opportunities for groups to come in, whether that’s a business or a group of friends or a social network might come through and almost use our kitchen as a team building opportunity for them, while at the same time having such a meaningful impact on their community by creating lunches for us,” she said.