"For the end of hunger... I give!" is their slogan. And you could add, "I eat spaghetti." But no, this has nothing to do with your mother's admonition to "think of the starving in China" or somewhere else far away, and clean up your plate.
It has to do with what we can do to help put food on the plates of our very own neighbours who are hungry.
Moisson Haut-Saint-François - our very own food bank - invites one and all to a benefit Spaghetti Supper on Thursday, October 22, at 6 p.m. It's at the Salle Guy-Veilleux, 75 Castonguay, Cookshire. The doors open at 5:45 p.m., supper is at 6 p.m., and music/karaoke is at 8 p.m. The menu offers salad, bread and butter, spaghetti with choices of sauce, coffee and dessert. Bar service is available. Admission is $15 per adult, $8 for ages 6 to 12, and $4 for ages 0 to 5.
And here's the kicker. Bring along with you some non-perishable food contributions for Moisson Haut-Saint-François. Get a table-full of friends to do so, too. People at the table with the heaviest collection of food items get a door prize.
Now if you are in a hard spot financially, and you or your family risk going hungry, Moisson Haut-Saint-François is there for you. Normally, people needing food are referred to the food bank by the CSSS, the Cuisine Collective, or a similar organization, said Katia Palardy. She coordinates Moisson Haut-Saint-François. Her phone number is 819-943-2781, and her email address is MoissonHsf@gmail.com.
But Palardy said the best way to access the Moisson's services in English is to go to the "Comptoir familial" in the basement of the St-Camille Church at 170 Principale E. in Cookshire. There Lise Ménard speaks English and can help you fill out the application form for food. It's available in English too. If the need is urgent, she will give the form right away to Katia for an immediate response. Just don't wait until you've spent your absolute last dollar before you go. Registration costs $2 per individual, $3 per couple, or $5 per family.
While you're there, the Comptoir familial is a great place to get good clothes, cheap. The entrance is on the lower side of the church, opening onto the parking lot shared with the Manoir de l'Eau vive. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.
OCTOBER 19 Mark it on your calendar: Go vote.
OCTOBER 21 A stroke is a brain attack, and can leave you partially paralyzed. It's known as an ACV in French, an accident vasculaire cerebral. It happens some 63,000 times in Canada each year, and some 315,000 Canadians and their families are living with the after effects. It is a leading cause of disability. How to cope?
The Heart and Stroke Foundation and the University of Sherbrooke are offering an interactive health education session that promises to give you coping tools, strategies, and information about available stroke services. The session is called Living with Stroke. The presenters are Hélène Corriveau, a well-known researcher in the University of Sherbrooke's Research Centre on Aging, and Andréane Tardif, the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Health Promotion Coordinator for Quebec.
The session is Wednesday, October 21, at 10 a.m. to noon, via videoconference at the Eaton Valley Community Learning Centre, at the far end of the Pope Memorial School in Bury. It's free and in English, offered by the Community Health and Social Services Network and Townshippers' Association. Info: 819-972-3771 (Kim Fessenden).
NOVEMBER 28 Gulp. I don't like using this word so early in October. It's really scary. But here it is: Christmas! The municipality of Newport is planning a Christmas Bazaar on November 28 at the municipal hall in Island Brook, and the word is out now to persons or groups who would like to reserve a table at the event. Info: Lyne at 819-889-1340 or Anne-Marie at 819-875-5227.
VIACTIVE GROUPS Four bilingual Viactive groups offer weekly sessions of "adults only" exercises, for people age 50 or over. They're fun, they're free, and they're led by trained volunteers. All are welcome - just drop in, and do as much as feels comfortable to you. The BURY group meets Wednesdays from 9:45 to 11 a.m. at the Armoury Community Centre, 563 Main Street. Info: 819-872-3600 or 819-872-3736. The COOKSHIRE group meets Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m., at the Manoir de l'Eau vive, 210 Principale East. Info: 819-875-5210. The NEWPORT group meets Wednesdays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Municipal Hall, 1452 Route 212, in Island Brook. Info: 819-560-8565. And the SAWYERVILLE group meets on Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Sawyerville Community Centre, 6 Church Street. Info: 819-889-2630.
CHURCHES Messy Church: It's tonight, Wednesday, October 7, at 5:15 p.m. at the St. Paul's Anglican Church in Bury. Messy Church is for all ages, but especially for families with young children. It's co-hosted by the Anglican and United churches in the Haut-Saint-François, with story-teller Lynn Dillabough, worship leader Tami Spires, and chef Violet Lister. Dinner is provided free. Messy Church happens the first Wednesday of each month. To have your place at the table, register in advance by calling 819-884-1203 or 819-239-6902. All are welcome.
United: Sunday services are at 9:30 a.m. in Cookshire and 11 a.m. in Sawyerville. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message or leave one).
Anglican: Sunday services are at 9:30 a.m. at St. Paul's in Bury and at 11 a.m. at St. Peter's in Cookshire. Info: 819-239-6902.
Baptist: In Sawyerville, the worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. Info: 819-239-8818.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email ra.writes@gmail.com by October 12 for publication October 21, and by October 26 for November 4.
