Editor’s Note: I have lost my notebook with the names of some of the people in the cutlines. When I find it, I will update the cutlines. I am sorry this has happened.
By CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — Thanksgiving arrived a week early for many people as they enjoyed a turkey dinner with all the trimmings – while also helping those in need.
The volunteer servers at the Turkey Dinner Fundraiser hosted by The Little Coffee Shop / The Scoop were kept busy as more than 100 people attended the donation-only event.
Anne (Moss) Scott, who purchased the Main Street Cobden business back in March, said it was important to her to host this event.
“I think, as a business owner, and I’m still new at it, should support the community somehow,” she said two days after the event.
The turkey dinner was in the upstairs hall of the Cobden Legion Sunday afternoon. While it was an event she organized, Ms. Scott said she received a financial donation towards it, as well as the cabbage salad and the potatoes. Other food served with the dinner included four 26-pound turkeys, carrots, turnip, gravy, and apple crisp with ice cream for dessert.
There were a few cooks to help out as well, Ms. Scott said, including herself, Joanne Hodgins and Cindy Smart.
She said her four brothers, Rick, Stephen (Bird), Mark and Joe came to help, along with their partners (in the same order) Mary, Margery Verner, Gail Jacques, Chris Laidler, her sister Ms. Smart friend Doug Hodgins, as well as staff from her business and a few high school students.
“The men did the cutting of the turnips and carrots, along with the mashing,” Ms. Scott said, adding, “Those big pots are heavy.”
But, it was also fun having her family help her out.
“It was wonderful to have the family there, all working hard,” she said.
While hoping to raise $1,000, Ms. Scott was “totally overwhelmed” when she realized the event had raised $2,222 and was donated to the Cobden Food Bank. While there is no official count for how many attended the dinner, she estimates somewhere between 126 to 150 people filled their tummies.
“I own a food place, people need to eat, so I thought the food bank was a good thing to donate to,” she explained, adding, “It’s important people have a place to go to for food.”
Ms. Scott admits it was “such a success, I may consider doing it again next year.”
When deciding on a fundraiser, she thought with Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching, sitting down and eating a turkey dinner seemed appropriate and a way of helping everyone in the community.
While Ms. Scott knew many people who attended the event, she admitted it was also a great way to meet people she didn’t know. People attending came from as far away Ottawa and from as close as Eganville to Pembroke and the surrounding area.
Ms. Scott said volunteering comes naturally to her, because her parents, Mary and Harvey (who are both deceased) were huge volunteer people.
“I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” she said with a laugh. “Growing up, we were always asked to help, especially by mom. She always loved doing her volunteer work. It was more fun than work.”
The Moss family grew up in Cobden, but for 37 years, Ms. Scott lived and worked in Ottawa. When she retired, she recalled Ms. Jacques coming to visit and telling her about the little restaurant and ice cream shop that were for sale.
“My family wanted me to come home, but my friends were in Kanata and Stittsville,” she said. “But, when Gayle told me about the coffee shop, I liked the idea of owning that business.”
Two days after the visit, Ms. Scott called Ms. Jacques told her she would return home if she could buy the two businesses. In March, 2016, Ms. Scott returned home.
“It’s not like work, it’s fun,” she said. “Yes, sometimes there are long hours, but I’m enjoying talking to the people.”
Ms. Scott said there was a huge learning curve and she has learned much in the past months, but she figures there’s still more to learn.
A Need for the Cobden Food Bank
Bonnie Helferty, a volunteer with the Cobden Food Bank, said it’s been operating for about 12 years and each year there seem to be more who use it.
“But, there’s also many who do need it and don’t come,” she said.
There are about 20 to 30 families who use the food bank each month.
While the shelves are stocked right now due to food drives at area schools and churches, Ms. Helferty admitted August and September were tough months. The biggest drive is during the Cobden Santa Claus Parade, she said.
She’s hopeful of having the Christmas baskets delivered by Dec. 12. She’s expecting about 50 families to receive a food basket of Christmas goodies, which includes a turkey.
Ms. Helferty stressed that while people believe the food bank is abused, she doesn’t believe it’s abused as much as it once was.
“For some people, it’s very emotional to have to ask for food,” she said. “I’ve seen a lot of tears. I’m not here to judge, I’m here to make sure children have lunch.”
But, she does admit, there are people who “fall into the system,” noting their parents and grandparents used food banks, so for them, it’s just natural.
Ms. Helferty said the donation from the turkey dinner was overwhelming, but then, she’s overwhelmed at times when people donate, whether it’s financially or with food.
“People are so kind to donate,” she said.
But she does ask those donating food to check the ‘best before’ date, because she cannot give out-dated food to clients.
For those who require the food bank, please call 613-647-7801.
