No plans tonight? How about fun and feasting for the whole family?
By Kyra Hoggan
If you haven’t yet got plans for tonight – or even if you do – you won’t want to miss out on the big happenings downtown, for a good time AND a good cause.
How about a community barbecue starting at 7 p.m., followed by a movie showing on a 10-foot, outdoor screen, with all proceeds going to the Community Harvest Food Bank?
The festivities are in honour of a new community garden area at the end of Second Avenue just off Third Street, overlooking the Columbia River with a view of Waldie Island.
“Living next to (this city-owned plot of land), I have witnessed several people using the spot as a rest stop and often as an inspiration point, to enjoy the beauty of the setting and to contemplate, meditate and supplicate,” said Cord Lafond, project coordinator and owner of Nimby Recycling here in town.
“I have taken it upon myself to enhance the spot to make it a sanctuary for people of all faiths (or no faith) to come and get in closer touch with their God, their community, themselves – be it to pray, meditate, ponder or just plain chill.”
LaFond, who is donating the work and money himself to develop the land, said this year’s undertaking included initial landscaping, two flowerbeds and a wishing well (funds collected from the well will also go to the food bank).
“Further development (will include) a labryrinth, sundail and standing stone,” he said.
Tonight will see the unveiling of the first stage of the community garden space, and residents are encouraged to come down with a non-perishable food donation to enjoy the area and each other’s company.
LaFond said the food bank was the obvious choice as recipient of the evening’s proceeds.
“I raised three kids here in the late ’90s, when times were tough and you couldn’t buy a job,” he said. “We wouldn’t have made it without the food bank.
“We’re back on our feet a bit now, and paying it forward.”
Hence the movie to be aired tonight at 8 p.m.– Pay It Forward, with Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osmet.
Comments