Planning for Jailbreak in Steinbach

The annual Rotary Club Jailbreak event is back with a number of celebrity offenders set to be locked behind bars while they raise their bail money.

The fourth year for the fundraiser, it allows the club to raise funds for key projects and programs.

This year South East Helping Hands and Rotary District 5550 Ripple Effects Project are two organizations that will benefit.

Club member Leonard Klassen said they chose Helping Hands to help with day-to-day expenses.

“Helping Hands has a lot of people supporting them with food products,” he said. “They still need to pay taxes and electricity and that’s what we’re about this year, trying to support them financially.”

Tax receipts are available for donations to either cause.

Once again, this year, local celebrities including Mayor Earl Funk, Hank Klassen, Audrey Harder, former RCMP Staff Sgt. Harold Laninga and many more will be “arrested” on made up charges.

They will appear before the judge, (MLA Kelvin Goertzen) and will be held in detention until they’ve raised their bail.

Klassen said the first year they held the event they raised $40,000. That number has fallen off in recent years, but the club is optimistic, setting this year’s goal at $50,000.

Detainees will face the judge between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on May 15 at Clearspring Centre.