After several years of fixing leaks, the South Cariboo Theatre plans to replace its roof this year.
Theatre owner and operator Jacquie McKay said she expects the replacement to cost $60,000 and is looking to raise money from community donations to help fix it, rather than taking out a loan. She's set up a 'Raise the Roof' donation box in the theatre's library while a member of the community has set up a GoFoundMe on her behalf online.
"It's just time to put a new roof on. Things rise to the top and that's the next thing that needs to be done," McKay said. "I was just looking for fundraising ideas and then a lady set up a GoFundMe for me which was really very nice and generous."
McKay has owned the theatre since 2008 through ups and downs in the community. One of those downs was the COVID-19 pandemic where the theatre was closed for several months due to gathering restrictions, which McKay said she is still recovering from.
In recent years the roof has needed persistent patches and short-term fixes, especially after big rainstorms. McKay said she has relied on Mainline Roofing in Williams Lake to fix the leaks, often free of charge. That's why when it comes time to replace the roof she plans to hire them to repay them for their kindness.
"It gets to a point where Band-Aids aren't good enough anymore," McKay said. "I'm still waiting for an official quote. I'm hoping for the fall because September is my slow month."
While McKay said the community can donate to the GoFundMe if they want she has also set up a donation box if they want all funds to go directly to the roof, noting that GoFundMe does take a small fee. She also said you can enter yourself in a raffle she's running for everyone who donates. While she is still figuring out the exact prizes, she said they will likely include a weekly draw for free movie passes and at the end of the Raise the Roof campaign a major draw for either a year of free movies or a private screening for the winner and their family. She noted she doesn't want to ask the community for help without giving back anything in return.
"If I had a lot of money I wouldn't be asking. We're doing our regular monthly payments but after COVID there is a lot of debt so I just can't add more," McKay said.
Going forward McKay is also planning on doing special Raise the Roof movie nights for the community. On Sunday, Feb. 9 she is hosting a double feature matinee screening of The Neverending Story and The Wizard of Oz by donation. All funds raised from this double feature and future screenings will go towards the roof repairs.
"As ideas come we'll do more," McKay remarked.
The GoFundMe set up for the theatre can be found on GoFundMe's website by searching South Cariboo Theatre Roof Repair.
