Staff
While the entire month of January is “Alzheimer Awareness Month,” fundraising events here in Rainy River District all are set to take place this weekend.
The local Alzheimer Society will hold its annual “Penny for Your Thoughts” weigh-in at Canadian Tire here this Friday (Jan. 23) from 2-9 p.m. and again Saturday (Jan. 24) from 8:30 a.m.-noon.
People are encouraged to bring in their spare pennies (rolled or not) and have them weighed. Prizes will be given out to those with the most copper—one for a group and one for an individual.
Then on Saturday evening, the second-annual Linda Johnston Memorial Dinner (formerly known as the Rainy River Alzheimer Society Dinner to Remember) will be held at the Rainy River Legion.
The roast beef supper also will feature the popular “Chairs for Charity” raffle again this year.
Tickets for the dinner cost $12 each, and a smalll amount are still available at the Rainy River Record office, while tickets for the raffle are available at the Rainy River Record office, the Legion, Peterson’s Store in Bergland, and Rainy River Drugs, as well as from Alzheimer Society volunteers in the Rainy River area.
They cost $2 each, or three for $5.
Proceeds will go to the Alzheimer Society of Kenora-Rainy River District.
Donations also will be accepted Saturday night for the Linda Johnston Memorial bursary, which is given out each year to an RRHS graduate.
The weekend events then will culminate with the Alzheimer Society’s fourth-annual “Chefs’ Charitable Dinner and Auction,” which is slated for Sunday, Jan. 25 at 5 p.m. at the Adventure Inn ballroom here.
There are some tickets left. They cost $50 each (which includes a $25 tax receipt), and are available at the Adventure Inn, La Flambée, Lee Garden, and Emo Inn.
Margaret Schonewille, executive director of the Alzheimer Society of Kenora-Rainy River District, said Monday the menu has grown a bit more since last week, and is likely to expand yet again this week.
So far it includes for appetizers roasted tomato and goat cheese bruschetta, as well as spinach and artichoke wonton crisps (by Gropp’s Catering of Kenora), along with assorted pizzas (Dominos).
This will be followed by a hearty beef barley vegetable soup served up by Kettles Restaurant, and an Oriental Thai salad (a medley of spring mixed greens and fresh Oriental vegetables, topped with chow mein noodles, mandarin oranges, and a homemade sesame dressing) courtesy of Lee Garden.
CC Complex will provide tomato juice while Dough & Deli and Greensides General Store will provide the dinner rolls.
The entrée will include seared green beans and roasted peppers (Gropp’s Catering), cabbage rolls (Iris Gogosha), roasted garlic and herb mashed potatoes (Kettles Restaurant), and Greek chicken (chicken breasts filled with feta cheese and spinach over a bed of sun-dried tomatoes and black olive soulis) courtesy of La Flambée.
There also will be a dessert buffet featuring coconut cream pies (Circle D Restaurant), ice cream cake (Dairy Queen), dessert squares (Rainycrest), M&M mini-cream puffs (M&M Meatshops), a fruit tray (Canada Safeway), Black Forest cake (Home Made in Burriss), a yet-to-be-determined dessert (Emo Inn), cookies (Subway), assorted dessert pizzas (Pizza Hut), and Timbits (Tim Hortons).
The Adventure Inn will provide coffee and tea, with cream and sugar from A&W and KFC, respectively.
Patrons also should know the dinner format has been changed from the buffet-style used the past two years and returned to the plated meal served up in the inaugural year.
In addition to the meal, there also will be a silent auction, raffles, games, or other means of raising funds in a fun way.
B93•fm morning show host Christa Pare will be emcee for the evening while Pam Cain-Hawley will be the honourary chef.
As well, the fundraiser will feature musical entertainment by Faye Flatt and comedy skits by a group of local Legion ladies.
Last year’s “Chefs’ Charitable Dinner and Auction” here raised just under $5,000.
Future events
In related news, the popular Alzheimer Society used book sale will take place at Revco Carpet here on Thursday, Feb. 26 and Friday, Feb. 27 during store hours and again Saturday, Feb. 28 until 1 p.m.
Please drop off your books at Revco Carpet after Feb. 17.
The annual “Walk for Memories” fundraiser is slated for Saturday, May 23 in Rainy River, starting at the Royal Canadian Legion, and Sunday, May 24 leaving from the Super 8 Motel here in Fort Frances.
A “tag day” also is planned for Friday, June 19, with volunteers needed.
Let the Alzheimer Society know if you can donate two hours of you time to help with this event by calling 1-800-682-0245.
