As the days grow cold and wet, two local charities are inviting Northumberland residents to join the Around the Table fundraiser and help their neighbours struggling with poverty, hunger and homelessness.
Between now and Oct. 31st, anyone can host an Around the Table dinner, potluck, BBQ, pizza party — anything that brings people together sharing food and goodwill — to raise charitable donations on the day in support of Green Wood Coalition and Local Food for Local Good.
With winter coming, the need for housing, clothing and food is more urgent than ever, says Cobourg Councillor and Around the Table organizer Nicole Beatty. Every fundraiser people hold will support these critical needs and Green Wood’s winter street outreach and addiction recovery program.
“This is a way people can give thanks while giving back,” says Beatty, who’s come up with a novel Around the Table idea by inviting her Facebook Friends to “Donate Your Date Night” by forgoing a night out and donating that money instead to her Around the Table drive.
Whether the approach is traditional or not, participating is as simple as registering online where hosts will find an easy-to-use toolkit complete with meal planning and recipe ideas, colourful harvest-themed graphics to print for decoration, online stories to share with guests about the impact their donations make and ongoing host support.
“When you gather around the table, you’re saying everyone is welcome, everyone belongs,” says Green Wood Community Director David Sheffield. “This powerful symbol of inclusion goes to the heart of what community is all about.”
