By Jen Clancey STAFF WRITER
Editor’s note: As of 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 4, the fundraiser has been extended and dates in this story have been updated to the new fundraiser end date on Friday, Oct. 11.
From now until Friday, Oct. 11, Big Sky residents can purchase $20 raffle tickets to support animals impacted by Hurricane Helene. Last week, the category four hurricane made landfall in Florida and has since caused deadly flooding throughout the Southeast as it tore through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Big Sky community member Julia Champagne recalled Hurricane Katrina’s impact on her hometown of New Orleans when she was in eighth grade. When she recently saw a video of a dog struggling in North Carolina hurricane floodwaters, she wondered how Big Sky could help out the devastated mountain meccas in American Appalachia. Champagne started a Big Sky raffle fundraiser for the Humane Society of the United States to support local shelters and to provide vet care and rescues while the region rebuilds.
“Asheville and Chimney Rock, those are little mountain towns, you know, and in our mountain town, we know how much we love our dogs,” Champagne said. She owns five dogs named Millie, Peaks, Lola, Indy and Etta James. “I’m a big animal lover … I couldn’t just sit down and not do anything.”
Champagne spoke with local businesses and gained support for a three-prize raffle with each prize valued from $420-460. The first prize includes a Double D Ranch purse, a $100 The Rocks gift card, a $50 Tres Toros gift card and a Big Sky Corduroy Hat. The second prize is a New West knife, $30 Blindside Burger gift card, ski hat and hat from Rhinestone Cowgirl. The third prize consists of a Yeti chest ice pack and water bottle, a $50 Ousel and Spur gift card, a $50 Tres Toros gift card, ski hat and a hat from Rhinestone Cowgirl.
Champagne wants to raise at least $3,500 for HSUS. Anyone in the community can purchase $20 raffle tickets at Bluebird in Big Sky Town Center during business hours. Champagne will also sell tickets at the homecoming carnival and the Lone Peak High School football game tonight.
Winners will be drawn and announced on Friday, Oct.11 and contacted by phone.
“I want to get the money to the Humane Society as fast as possible because I know they need it more than anything right now,” Champagne said.
