"Rock the Docks" Event Raises $2,000 For Bridgenorth United Church Food Bank

The Bridgenorth United Church Food Bank received a donation of $2,000 raised from the Rock the Docks event in a cheque presentation at Bridgenorth United Church on Tuesday afternoon.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The donated money will help the food bank purchase perishable foods to distribute to their clients based on what has already been donated to them.

“We shop every week. Whatever we don't get from our membership with Kawartha Food Share and what we don't have for donations from neighbouring organizations and our congregation goes to the fresh produce,” said Rev. Cathy Gradante of Bridgenorth United Church. “So it's cheese, eggs, juice and things that are more easily spoiled so we have to purchase them on a regular basis.”

Rock the Docks was put on by the Bridgenorth Beautification Commitee at Great Outdoors Landing on Aug. 12. The event featured food (by Chemong Lodge), live music, door prizes, 50/50 draw, dancing, a silent auction and kids activities. Adam Brown, Chemong Lodge owner was happy to contribute especially after learning the increasing number of families that rely on food banks such as Bridgenorth Food Bank.

“It is somewhat discouraging when you see how many families need it but it’s great that the community is there so I’m really encouraged by that side of things,” he said.

The church on average feeds 75 families monthly in the Selwyn township, a number that has been alarmingly increasing according to Patta Latour, church co-chair.

“We used to be able to help people from Peterborough but we just got over capacity and we couldn’t,” she said. “The number of people that we helped just from Selwyn Township last month was the same number from Selwyn and in Peterborough.”

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