This story is made possible through the support of Housser's Paint and Wallpaper as part of OrilliaMatters' Community Leaders Program.
With the help of sponsors and the community, the goal is to raise $40,000, explains Bisma Khan, development manager of The Sharing Place Food Centre.
"It is a great way for businesses to promote themselves all while having fun and team building," Khan says, adding that sponsorships are still available.
The hope is to turn the Hoedown into an annual event to raise funds and awareness to fight food insecurity. The profits will go towards The Sharing Place's four programs: The Food Bank, School Fuel, Food Recovery and Meals 4 Change.
"The Food Bank program provides a seven-day supply of healthy groceries to those who are food insecure," Khan says. "Currently, approximately 2,000 people a month use our food bank."
The School Fuel student nutrition program delivers healthy food to 23 area schools that feed over 4,500 school kids every school day, while the Food Recovery program partners with local farmers, grocery stores, and food service providers to recover surplus food and distribute it to Sharing Place members and community organizations. The Meals 4 Change team produces healthy, ready-to-eat meals using recovered food that is then distributed to members and community organizations to share with people who are food insecure.
"We must bring the issue of hunger and food insecurity to light," Khan says. "It is a very real problem we witness daily at The Sharing Place, and it must be addressed and resolved."
Events like the Harvest Hoedown are an opportunity to support a great cause while having fun with coworkers and friends. To purchase tickets to the first annual Harvest Hoedown on September 15, visit The Sharing Place website here.
