Ship 'Nog brings people together to support local charities

For some Calgarians, nothing tastes quite like Christmas like a nutmeg-topped glass of Ship 'Nog.

For around the past 20 Decembers, the Ship & Anchor Pub on 17Avenue S.W. has served up homemade rum-spiked eggnog with proceeds going to support various charities.

Since 2006 they've raised over a quarter of a million dollars for organizations ranging from tsunami relief to Amanda Lindhout's Global Enrichment Foundation.

"For a lot of people, the Ship has become a bit of a family tradition over the holidays," says Nicola Trolez, marketing manager at the Ship &Anchor.

"For people whose families are out of town, this is their family. The eggnog has become a part of that."

This year they've decided to keep the charities local, and so from Dec. 1-31, $5 from every glass of #shipnog will go to the Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter and the Downtown Outreach Assistance Program which reaches out to individuals living on the street at Alpha House Calgary.

On Friday morning the pot had already reached over $29,500, and they expect to be well over $30,000 by New Year's Eve.

For people whose families are out of town, this is their family.- NicolaTrolez

There's so much anticipation over 'nog season at the Ship each year (there's even a Facebook page for Ship 'Nog enthusiasts), they decided to do a sneak-a-peek on Nov.30, raising over $1,000 on that night for a single charity, Redefin'd.

Since Dec. 1 they've served up nearly 500 eggnogs per day496 on their "Don't Hog the Nog" night on Dec. 22, and 474 on Christmas Eve.

It's certainly some of the best eggnog you'll ever drink they make it in-house with eggs, sugar, cream and spices; the recipe, honed over two decades, a closely-guarded secret.

The turnover is so great they mix batches together daily, pulling it off every year with a little help from Bacardi Oakheart Spiced Rum and Sysco, who contribute the rum (although there is a second liquor in there as well) and non-alcoholic ingredients, making it possible for the Ship to donate $5 per glass.

The people make the place

"The big success of the Ship is the crowd," says Trolez.

"They're a conscious group and our role is to provide a fun way for them to give. Any initiative we do, whether it's something that just springs up, like a fundraiser for the Slave Lake fire, or something annual like Ship 'Nog or our cancer fundraiser that happens every January, we're always overwhelmed by the response and how generous people are.

"We have great food, we have great drinks, but it's really the people that makes the place."

The Ship & Anchor Pubis located at534 17 Ave. S.W.

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