How many pounds of food could area churches collect during a friendly competition for the local food bank?
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That was the challenge issued in August by Dunwich United Church in Dutton.
This Challenge to Collect for the month of September was issued to see which of the area churches could collect the most non-perishable food for the West Elgin Daffodil Auxiliary – Welfare. Participating churches were Argyle Presbyterian, Crinan; Duff Presbyterian, Expand; Dunwich United; Dutton Baptist; Grace Anglican, West Lorne; Knox-St. Andrews Presbyterian, Dutton; St. Helen’s Catholic, Wallacetown; and St. Peter’s Anglican, Tyrconnell. Collections grew at the participating churches throughout the month of September.
The weigh-off took place in the parking lot of Dunwich United on the morning of Sept. 30. Agris Co-operative Ltd. graciously borrowed the use of a pallet scale, which made the weigh-off very efficient.
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Lin McCann, representative of Daff Auxiliary, reported the food bank usually distributes 50 hampers each month but anticipates close to 100 hampers will be requested for Christmas. Knowing the need is great and ongoing, these area churches stepped up.
The total weights, by church, were:
- Argyle Presbyterian, 114.4 pounds;
- Duff Presbyterian, 201.3 pounds;
- Dunwich United, 559.9 pounds;
- Dutton Baptist, 332.2 pounds;
- Grace Anglican & St. Peter’s Anglican 67.1 pounds;
- Knox-St. Andrews Presbyterian 497.2 pounds; and
- St. Helen’s Catholic, 387.2 pounds.
The sum total weight of these generous collections was 2,159.3 pounds of food for the local food bank. While this campaign was a friendly competition among the churches and their members, accompanied by some hilarious ‘trash talk and competitive bluster, the true winner was the community.
McCann was deeply grateful for the churches’ generosity, and gave a heartfelt thank you speech to the assembled donors, who were snapped with their individual church’s total in the accompanying picture.
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