Residents, volunteers and one eager Maxine DeHart rose up before the sun on Thursday morning to get a head start on the 20th annual Maxine DeHart Drive-Thru Breakfast.
Hosted at the Ramada Hotel, the annual event boasts an exuberant buzz of community spirit and bolsters the United Way’s programming throughout Kelowna and the Okanagan.
After two decades and $750,000 raised for the community, the Kelowna councilor is taking a step back from the Drive-Thru spotlight.
“It’s been unbelievable!” said DeHart.
“I think it is going to be pretty sad in a way, but you know everything has a best before date but we are gonna go out on a high.”
By 5:30 a.m. volunteers were already ushering in hungry locals, ready to open their hearts and wallets to donate to the cause.
Although they may have had to wait for their bag of breakfast, throughout the line they received prizes, car detailing, warm coffee and more from a plethora of local organizations and businesses.
With a stunning $20,000 donation from the Thomas Alan Budd Foundation, an anonymous donor planning to match up to $20,000 in online donations, and the generosity of patrons, the grand total raised so far is a record-breaking $110,053.
From smiles and laughter to tear-filled eyes and long hugs, the 20th and final, Maxine DeHart Drive-Thru Breakfast leaves a legacy our city won’t soon forget.
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