Anne Taller
Did you have a favourite doll, toy or teddy bear when you were a child? Perhaps you still have it. If you were very fortunate, it was put away, perhaps temporarily forgotten or deliberately preserved for you. For many, however, a treasured object was passed down, thrown away or given to another child, because, “You’re too old for that now”.
In adulthood, many have discovered the pleasures of collecting or making dolls, bears and miniatures. Whatever the connection is for you, the New Ottawa Doll Show and Sale on May 2 offers a chance to immerse yourself in this world. At the same time, you will be performing a community service by supporting the Ottawa Food Bank.
The Ottawa Food Bank supports a network of 140 emergency food programs (shelters, food cupboards, before and after school programs, etc.) throughout the Ottawa area. These numbers illustrate how essential the food bank is. Every month:
- 51,613 people use the food bank.
- 3,000 volunteers help deliver, pick up and sort food, answer phones and work special events.
- 250 tons of food — the weight equivalent of 55 elephants — is distributed by the food bank.
Every cent donated at the Ottawa Doll Show and Sale door goes to the Ottawa Food Bank. Cash donations are appreciated because they allow the food bank to buy what it needs, especially fresh produce, meat, eggs and other perishable items. Because it has the support of the food industry, the food bank is able to turn every $1 donated into $5 worth of food.
“We ask for $2 but many people give more,” said Valerie Hennigar, the show organizer. “At the last show alone, the $900 donated at the door enabled the food bank to buy $4,500 worth of food.”
The show will take place at the EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Dr. (near the Ottawa airport), from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 2. Admission: a cash donation to the Ottawa Food Bank (minimum $2, please). For more information, please contact Valerie Hennigar at (613) 825-9326 or vhennigar@sympatico.ca
