Lobster-fancying Peninsula residents ensured the success of a recent fundraising project – the inaugural Semiahmoo Rotary Club Drive Through Lobster Fest on Nov. 7.
Some 160 people put down $60 in advance for the lobster dinners (including a 1.29 to 1.51 lb. cooked lobster with potato salad, dinner roll and apple pie), which they picked up between 5 and 7 p.m. on the day, at the Rotary Field House, adjacent to the South Surrey Athletic Park,
“People picked up their dinners and took them home to eat,” organizer Stan Carter told Peace Arch News.
“Nobody was getting out of their car – we were COVID-19 guideline-compliant with both Fraser Health and the City of Surrey. Everyone was very co-operative and it all went very smoothly.
“Originally, we were going to have a sit-down dinner,” he explained, “and then COVID came along.”
Proceeds will go to worthy local community-building charities, Carter said, adding that he was personally gratified by the response, which sold out the event by Nov. 1.
“I’ve been working on this for a year. My daughter lives outside of Halifax and I actually sat down with the supplier there and worked out the details,” he said.
“We actually sold 10 over the planned limit of 150,” Carter added.
“I don’t know whether it was the lobsters or the novelty of the event, but we’ve already received some 25 thank-you emails.”
Given the success of the first event, it’s a strong likelihood the Lobster Fest will be back again next year, although Carter said the form it takes then will depend on the course of the pandemic over the next year.
“It’ll either be a sit-down dinner or another drive-through,” he said.
alex.browne@peacearchnews.com
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