Kris Camenzind, executive director of the Hope Alliance of Lewis County, received a check for $1,100 from Centralia Girls Night Out representative Sandi Walczyk this week.
“We are so thankful for everyone that came to Girls Night Out to support this worthy cause, from the basket donators, to the people who put in money for the drawings, the passport purchasers, our fabulous downtown businesses, and all the fabulous volunteers,” Girls Night Out wrote in a social media post. “And, a big thank you to Kris and crew for all their help with this event!”
The next Girls Night Out event is set for April 26 in downtown Centralia.
In October, organizers held the 35th rendition of the event, which involved 35 businesses in the city’s downtown core. The event was launched in 2008 by Walczyk, who owns the Bath Depot, Inc., and former downtown Centralia business owner Flossy Heymann, among others.
Over the course of the last 16 years, the event has grown to include more local businesses and more attractions for participants, including a limo to take shoppers up and down Tower Avenue and gift bags full of items donated by the participating businesses.
The event also includes a gift basket raffle, where Girls Night Out participants can buy raffle tickets to enter drawings for gift baskets that were donated by local businesses. Shoppers can also enter for separate drawings at each of the participating businesses.
The event has consistently garnered 200 or more participants in recent years, organizers said last month.
Girls Night Out has always benefited a charity. Including this year’s total, the event has raised about $8,700 for Hope Alliance over the years.
Hope Alliance is the county’s only 24/7, free and confidential crisis program for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Hope Alliance also provides legal aid for protection orders and divorces, along with services such as housing, medical advocacy, support during forensic interviews, support groups and prevention education.
For more information about Girls Night Out and the upcoming spring event, visit https://www.facebook.com/DowntownCentraliaGirlsNightOut.
For more information about Hope Alliance, visit https://hopealliancelc.org/.
