Christmas Cheer Breakfast sells out

A sold-out Christmas Cheer fundraising breakfast held at The Eagles Nest Bar and Grill on Saturday morning is expected to raise about $3,500 for the Brandon and Westman Christmas Cheer Board.

The organizers — who revived the event after years of pandemic disruptions — worked to help meet a record demand for more than 1,600 holiday hampers this year.

All 100 tickets for this year’s breakfast were snapped up quickly — far faster than expected — marking a dramatic turnaround for an event that had seen years of cancellations and uncertainty during and after the pandemic, co-chair Len Isleifson told the Sun during the event on Saturday.

“We’ve sold right out. We have absolutely no tickets left,” Isleifson said, looking over a room packed with diners. “We started with 100 tickets, and we’ve got 100 people in there eating right now, which is just incredible.”

Although organizers did not set a formal fundraising target this year, Isleifson said early estimates show the event has already generated around $3,500, combining ticket sales, silent auction bids, rainbow auction proceeds and half of the 50/50 draw.

With breakfast plates sold at $25 each — and with the restaurant offering the group what Isleifson described as a “really good deal” — the majority of the event’s revenue will be profit directed straight to the Brandon and Westman Christmas Cheer Board.

“We want to grow this every year because the need for Christmas Cheer grows every year,” he said. “This year will be our baseline, and then we’ll build up from here.”

Organizers also said that the venue could expand capacity to 151 people next year, a change they’re already considering.

Community sponsors played a crucial role, donating items for auctions and prizes that helped drive up fundraising totals, co-chair Barb Andrew told the Sun.

“I’m just thrilled that we were sold out,” Andrew said. “It’s very, very rewarding that the citizens are ready to back this.”

Andrew added that planning went smoothly and that next year’s event is already on the horizon. “We’ll be breaking this down afterward — what worked and what didn’t — but I think everything has worked. And hopefully we can increase ticket sales next year.”

This year’s breakfast comes at a critical time for the Brandon Westman Christmas Cheer Board, which is facing its highest number of hamper applications ever.

More than 1,600 families have already applied for Christmas hampers — exceeding last year’s 1,551, social media manager Syndy Wright told the Sun.

Though the organization operates out of a donated space capable of assembling 1,200 hampers, the rising demand means about 400 families will need to be supported through the community’s Adopt-a-Family program.

“Our financial goal this year is $90,000. With that, we can meet the 1,200 hampers we’re physically able to build,” Wright said. “Fundraisers like these really help support us financially.”

Wright said several attendees at the breakfast had already taken Adopt-a-Family forms, a welcome sign as the Cheer Board calls on sports teams, service clubs, youth groups, workplaces and churches to help close the gap.

“It’s really meaningful when former recipients come back to donate or volunteer,” she added. “It’s that giving-spirit, full-circle moment.”

With demand climbing and fundraising efforts like the breakfast gaining momentum, organizers hope that renewed community involvement will ensure every registered family receives the “magic of Christmas.”

“We don’t want to leave anyone behind,” Wright said. “Events like this make that possible.”

The Christmas Cheer Board continues to accept Adopt-a-Family registrations and donations as it works toward its $90,000 target, she said.

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