Like many other fundraising events, the Comox Valley chapter of Child Haven is not letting the pandemic deter the group from ‘hosting’ its annual fundraising dinner.
This year, however, the full vegetarian Indian dinner will look a little bit different, said organizer Heather Holm, who says this is the 17th annual fundraising dinner.
“We’re doing a full takeaway dinner – we had to do something,” she explained and said while the group raised $13,000 for Child Haven last year, there is no specific goal in mind this year.
RELATED: Comox Valley’s annual Child Haven dinner upcoming
Child Haven assists children and women in developing countries who are in need of food, education, health care, shelter and clothing, emotional and moral support. The organization has five homes in India, one in Nepal, one in Tibet and one in Bangladesh that supports children who are disabled, parentless or from socially disadvantaged situations.
Founded by Bonnie and Fred Cappuccino in 1985, operating funds for the homes are garnered by the dinners. Since then, they’ve been awarded the Order of Canada, the UNESCO Prize for Teaching of Human Rights and the Canada Volunteer Award. Supporters include Margaret Atwood, Dr. Gary Geddes, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, and even V. Kalyanam, former secretary to Mahatma Gandhi. All the funds raised by Child Haven dinners across Canada go to helping the children in the homes.
The dinner this year is set for Oct. 16 at 5 p.m. The meal will be prepared at the Courtenay Legion kitchen and distributed via takeaway from the 3rd Street side of the building at 367 Cliffe Ave. Holm noted those picking up a meal will have to follow physical distancing and a handwashing station with sanitizer will be available.
She added if the fundraiser is successful, there is a possibility the local group will host a similar takeaway dinner in the spring.
Dinner for four is $50, and a dinner for two is available by request. Holm is asking for anyone interested to preregister by emailing heathercc@shaw.ca and payment is requested via e-transfer.
For more information about Child Haven, visit www.childhaven.ca.