Reach Out Centre Holds Open House & Ribbon Cutting June 22
(June 21, 2022 - PORT COLBORNE) Port Cares invites the public to come to their Reach Out Centre on Wednesday, June 22 for an Open House BBQ, where they’ll unveil their new outdoor space and entrance/addition to the food bank.
The doors open at 2:00pm at 61 Nickel Street, with free street parking around the block and festivities run until 5:30pm.
The wraparound agency will have all hands on-deck outdoors; the EarlyON team will have a fun bubble station, activity kits, an obstacle course and more, all for children up to the age of 6.
The literacy team at PC Works will have free books for adults, a lemonade and refreshment stand and will have lots of on-site info for job seekers and employers.
Housing and Homelessness services will have their infamous baked goods for sale, in support of the food bank.
Guests are invited to help plant the new raised garden beds which will have veggies and herbs that chef Aldo will use for the meal program, as well as provide produce for the food bank clients.
91.7 Giant FM will be on-site with ‘Dino Rockzilla’ and folks that give a donation are invited to spin their prize wheel to take something fun home!
At 2:30pm Chef (and infamous dancer) Aldo will be hosting a fun Zumba session for everyone to get moving to.
Thanks to generous donations from local businesses, a free BBQ will take place until 5:30pm and ice cream will be served starting at 3:30pm.
“It feels great to once again have a traditional in-person event at our Reach Out Centre,” says Christine Clark Lafleur, executive director at Port Cares. “We’re so excited for this fun day and we can’t wait for you to see our new outdoor space that clients can start using to enjoy their fresh meals each week.”
A new campaign for the agency features a slogan ‘Gettin’ By With a Little Help From Our Friends’, which will feature apparel for purchase at the event and ties into the awards at 4:15pm. Port Cares will be recognizing companies and individuals in the community that went above and beyond with helping the charity during the pandemic.
Since the pandemic started 26 months ago the number of people receiving relief services through Port Cares has grown by 35 per cent.
To put a number to it, they’re serving roughly 2,300 unique individuals, and about 1,000 per month. This includes the food bank, seniors’ emergency boxes & meal program. Seniors and children make up the highest number of clients served.
For those that have never visited the food bank before, now is your chance to take a tour and see where thousands of people get help throughout the year. And for those that haven’t been out in a while will appreciate to see how far the organization has come and the changes to the facilities.
At 6:00pm, the agency will then host their 36th Annual General Meeting.
Guests are kindly asked to bring a non-perishable food donation for the food bank.
Port Cares would like to thank the following organizations for their generous donations to make this event possible:
No Frills – hotdogs, buns, condiments for bbq and other groceries for meal
Pinty’s – over 160 quarter chicken legs
Gales Gas – propane cylinder for BBQ
The Mill – veggie and herb plants for garden beds
Plant’s Choice – soil for garden beds
PC Quarries – stone/gravel for the outdoor space
