By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
With their third annual Pancake Brunch in the rearview mirror, St. George’s Anglican Church has crossed the $8,000 mark in raising funds for Habitat For Humanity Northumberland.
Sharon O’Connor of the Grafton church’s Social Justice Team said the idea originally came from Rev. Helena-Rose Houldcroft two years ago. Pancake suppers are a Shrove Tuesday staple for churches, and they made theirs a brunch so no one would have to drive at night. And Rev. Houldcroft’s thought was to make it by-donation, with all funds raised going to Habitat.
They raised $2,000 the first year, and then $2,800 in 2024. When all the counting was done, they reported having raised $3,311 (and change) this year.
And, as in so many of the church’s charity fundraisers, O’Connor noted that all funds raised means that everything donated goes entirely to Habitat – meaning, in effect, that St. George’s has provided all labour and materials as its gift to the effort.
Dignitaries on hand included Mayor John Logel and Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Philip Lawrence, as well as Habitat For Humanity Chief Executive Officer Cathy Borowec.
Borowec thanked St. George’s for its long history of supporting Habitat, especially at their Baltimore build of seven town houses that is nearing completion. Throughout, she said, the church’s volunteers have regularly come through for them by catering lunches and snack breaks for the work crews.
The Baltimore project still has some interior work to be done, but Borowec estimates a mid-to-late-April date might work for a dedication – an event that would include the chance to tour one of the units.
Thereafter, she added, move-in would have to be staged because they’ve never had a project before where seven families were able to move into their own homes at one time.
