Posted May 27, 2010 By Ray Yurkowski
Belleville EMC
Grade 8 students from Kent Public School donated their time to pack and help deliver 380 lunches for the “Appetite for Awareness” campaign at Community Living.
EMC News- Campbellford – It was just a few weeks ago when Community Living Campbellford-Brighton were in a celebratory mood after 50 years of inspiring possibilities in Northumberland County.
“We believe, as our founder did, that people with intellectual disabilities have the right to live in and participate in their community,” said executive director Nancy Brown in her address to the crowd of well-wishers commemorating the milestone event.
But last week, it was time to roll up their sleeves and get back to the business at hand.
“Appetite for Awareness” combines a brown bag lunch with a chance to learn a little more about the organization. Businesses and schools around the area were asked for donations or were given the opportunity to buy their lunch for the day for a nominal fee of five dollars.
The proceeds from the campaign go directly to the “Outcomes Sponsorship Fund” that gives people with an intellectual disability the financial assistance to realize their personal goals and dreams. For some, aspirations are sometimes unachievable owing to a lack of resources and that’s where the fund comes in, sponsoring educational opportunities and tuition, reconnections with families, medical supports not covered by other sources and much more.
The lunches themselves were a true community effort thanks to donations from a long list of local businesses: Dooher’s Bakery, Sharpe’s Food Market, Campbellford Wholesale, Bill’s No Frills and Empire Cheese in Campbellford along with Mike and Lori’s No Frills and Dunnett Orchards in Brighton. In all, 380 lunches were delivered in Campbellford, Brighton and Warkworth.
“We have people who receive support from our organization that help with this event,” says Supports and Services supervisor Angela Clarke. Along with help from Community Living staff and Grade 8 students from Kent Public School in Campbellford, the assembly line and delivery comes off without a hitch.
“We try to spread it out so not everybody has to work six hours that day to make it happen,” says Clarke. “And it gives more people the opportunity to be involved.”
Some of the school-age kids may not have any idea of what Community Living was all about but the experience creates an awareness she explained.
“Some of these kids go on to high school and do co-op placements here. We have a number of staff that came here as co-op students in high school and had no idea of what Community Living was. Now they work here and have for years.”
The second annual Community Living golf tournament is set for July 10 at Pine Ridge Golf Course. The $80 per person entry fee includes 18 holes of golf, cart and dinner. For more information or sign up, call Community Living at 705-653-1821 or toll free at 1-866-528-0825.
