Seniors' musical assists local food bank

BY PAT MARTIN

They came from as far as Falmouth and Berwick to attend the first, and sure to be annual, Canning Cornwallis District New Horizons Seniors’ musical fundraiser. It was held Wednesday, April 23 at the Canning Lions Hall in support of the local food bank.

When Rose Tupper, President of the Canning Seniors’ club, approached the group with an idea for a musical fundraiser, the members thought it was an excellent idea.

“Our main focus was to gather food for the local food bank,” Tupper said. “We have a very active and hard-working membership who work well together and are always willing to pitch in.”

Plans soon evolved and the members, the local food bank and Canning Lions Hall representatives got involved. The Canning Lions donated the use of the building and their members made tea and coffee for the event. Numerous Valley seniors’ groups were also contacted and invited to attend.

Door prizes of gas certificates were obtained, 50/50 tickets were made available, volunteers and lunch providers were organized, a musical group was hired, and the local newspaper and radio were contacted as well as bulletin board advertising.

On the day of the event, approximately 170 people attended the smash hit afternoon to help those in need, converse in friendly conversations, tap toes to the upbeat music and snack on prepared munchies.

Invited seniors’ groups from around the Valley also joined in and contributed to the fun-filled afternoon and the cause. Those who responded to the invitation included the New Minas 50-Plus club, the Minas Waves, Gaspereau Gem and Jewels, Wolfville Silver and Gold, Port Williams Seniors, Kentville New Horizons, Coldbrook Apple Valley Seniors, and the Central Kings Crusaders.

Looks like another heavy year

Admission to the event was a donation to the food bank. Harry Currie from the Canning and Area Food Bank was on hand to accept the boxes of non-perishable food items that heaped four banquet tables and totaled approximately 600 pounds, as well as a monetary donation that was presented to him by Canning seniors’ club president Rose Tupper.

According to food bank records, a total of 780 families - 2,195 people - were assisted at the Canning Food Bank in 2007. Up to the end of March of this year, a total of 280 families - 789 people - have been helped.

“It looks as though it’s going to be another heavy year,” says Currie. “The donations are greatly appreciated and it will help feed a lot of families.”

He added, “events like the recent musical afternoon was really good and organizations like the Canning Cornwallis District New Horizon’s seniors’ club are certainly valued for their efforts.”

Featured musicians included the popular country and western singers David Arenburg and Friends, who entertained for the entire afternoon. The talented artists and spirited music had a few couples dancing in front of the stage while others clapped to the pulse of the music.

A 50/50 ticket was drawn with Harry Isnor winning a total of $154.50 and Eugene Bartlet, Nora Russell, Frank Hutchinson and Emily Windsor were winners of four additional door prizes.

With the success of the first musical fundraiser, consideration for a future musical fundraiser is probable. Nora Russell of the New Minas 50-Plus seniors’ group was also impressed and said their group would like to do something similar in the fall.

Started in 1973

The Canning seniors’ group originated in 1973 with seven members and has since grown to 40-plus that meet each Wednesday afternoon from 1:30-4 p.m. at the local Lions Hall. Seniors age 55-and-up enjoy an afternoon with a brief business meeting, followed by games of cards, crib and crokinole and then a light lunch.

The group also enjoys the occasional day trip like the bus excursion to Peggy’s Cove and Mahone Bay that took place last summer with another in the works for the beginning of October of this year when the leaves are in full colour.

Tupper works diligently to improve the club’s resources and to help others by utilizing fundraisers as well as acquiring government grants that allow the group to obtain items like new games, tables and the recently purchased computer. Several members have already expressed interest and are waiting anxiously to begin the free computer classes that will soon be offered by the club to teach them basic computer and Internet skills.

Each year the club hosts a Christmas dinner catered by the Lions club; takes part in the yearly Kings County Seniors Games that begin May 19 with event competitions like darts, crib, 45’s, crokinole, skip-bo, washer toss, and a variety show held at the New Minas Fire Hall; organizes fundraisers such as blind auctions, 50/50 ticket draws, Lucky Duck ticket sales for Recreation Nova Scotia, and the recent musical for the food bank; has an occasional guest speaker like the recent representative from Valley Waste Resources; and allows the V.O.N. to use the clubroom for their monthly foot care clinic.

The Canning seniors also value their active memberships in worthwhile and democratic organizations such as the Kings County Council of Senior Citizens and Pensioners, the Federation of Senior Citizens and Pensioners of Nova Scotia, and the National Pensioners and Seniors Citizens Federation.

“We’re always looking for new members,” Tupper said. “We’re a friendly bunch.”

For further information on how to join the Canning seniors’ club, contact Rose at 582-7346. To donate to the Canning Food Bank, contact Harry at 582-3886.