The Gathering Place and Cassellholme are gearing up for their inaugural Grand Parade.
The event goes Saturday, September 18th with teams of people walking from Cassellholme to the Gathering Place then crossing the street and walking back to Cassellholme.
Dennis Chippa, Executive Director of The Gathering Place, says it’s both an in-person and virtual event, where people can take part in their own neighbourhood walk too.
One goal of the event is to raise $20,000 for their food outreach program.
“The food outreach team has been providing 900 to 1,000 meals weekly to various agencies, various individuals that have been isolated and have been having trouble making ends meet and they want to stay in their apartments,” Chippa says.
He also says they’re looking to raise awareness to the fact that a lot of seniors are having a difficult time making ends meet, especially during the pandemic.
“It’s a combination of expensive food and some senior groups didn’t get increases in their pension. We’ve got seniors that have been just hanging on for years and now they can’t. It’s difficult for us because some of these people have donated to us in the past and now they’re asking us for help,” Chippa says.
He says people can donate to a team, form a team or donate directly to the program too.
For more information visit thegrandparade.org/location/northbay
The food outreach program delivers to various parts of the city, West Nipissing and Mattawa and is looking to expand into West Ferris.
