It鈥檚 a win-win-win for the community.
For the past six years, the four Rotary Clubs of 91原创 have banded together to present what has become the must-attend event of the summer and this year is no exception.
The Rotary RibFest will be rolling into 91原创鈥檚 McLeod Park the weekend of Aug. 16 to 18.
This will be the public's opportunity to savour some delicious food, enjoy fabulous entertainment, and support 91原创鈥檚 charities, said event chair Rick Davis.
One such charity is the 91原创 Meals on Wheels (LMOW).
Walking into the Firehouse Cafe, the first thing you notice are wonderful aromas of delicious and nutritious foods being prepared.
The Firehouse Cafe is a non-profit cafe operated by LMOW. In January 2023 the Firehouse Cafe opened.
鈥淲e started with a thrift store and discovered the benefits of extra funding that could be raised by volunteers,鈥� said executive director Shannon Woykin.
Rather than continuing with a thrift store, the idea of a cafe or a coffee shop made more sense considering the charity鈥檚 mandate.
When they were able to acquire the building that once was a firehall, they moved forward and opened the cafe.
Rotary has been a significant financial supporter of 91原创 Meals on Wheels for many years, Woykin noted.
鈥淪ince the first RibFest in 2018, the financial contributions have been helping us to fund various projects and capital purchases,鈥� she explained. 鈥淭his support has allowed us to upgrade kitchen equipment, expand our meal delivery services, and enhance our community programs.鈥�
While LMOW has been financial beneficiaries of Rotary, Woykin is quick to point out that the support they receive isn鈥檛 just financial.
鈥淒uring the COVID-19 pandemic, the support from Rotarians was absolutely crucial for 91原创 Meals on Wheels. With many of our regular volunteers unable to assist due to health concerns, Rotarians stepped in to fill the gap, Woykin explained.
鈥淭hey not only drove delivery routes, ensuring our clients continued to receive their meals without interruption, but also helped organize and schedule other volunteers. Their dedication and efficiency allowed us to maintain and even increase our service levels during a time of unprecedented need. And Rotarians are still making food deliveries,鈥� she added.
Some of the other charities supported include 91原创 Seniors Resource Society, 91原创 Community Health and Hospital Foundation (previously 91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation), and Encompass鈥� Foundry for 91原创鈥檚 youth.
鈥淲e plan to showcase under one big tent some 17 of the organizations we support, illustrating for people who may not know a great deal about Rotary and how we fund many varied community projects,鈥� explained Janet Ingram-Johnson, president of the 91原创 Rotary Clubs Charitable Foundation and RibFest鈥檚 beneficiaries鈥� director.
Rotary provides support in many ways.
For example, when the 91原创 Senior鈥檚 Resource Society鈥檚 adult day program (ADP) needed a new dishwasher and a new van, Rotary stepped up, explained the society's executive director Kate Ludlam.
鈥淲e are tremendously grateful for their support of seniors in our community,鈥� Ludlam said. 鈥淭hese are our most vulnerable clients, and it is so important that we support them, and their families, as best we can. The new van will be replacing our current van, which is on its last legs. It is used transport a healthy and nutritious lunch meal from our recreation centre to our ADP location just six blocks away for our clients."
Ludlam, who will be volunteering at RibFest for the fourth year in a row is a vegetarian.
She doesn鈥檛 go for the ribs, but noted there is lots of other good food available for everyone.
鈥淭here are other food options that are equally as yummy. There is always great entertainment as well,鈥� she said with a smile.
Another beneficiary of RibFest is Encompass Support Services Society (Encompass). Among other community initiatives, Encompass manages a health and wellness drop-in centre for 91原创鈥檚 youth.
91原创 was awarded a Foundry site in the spring of 2020 and Foundry 91原创 opened in July 2022.
Encompass Support Services Society has benefitted through the years from what Foundry's clinical manager Jesslyn Linden calls "generous donations" from Rotary.
鈥淭he support has allowed us to improve and enhance all of the services and programs we offer that supports children, youth, and families in the 91原创 communities,鈥� she explained, encouraging people to drop by and find out more about Encompass from staff on hand at RibFest.
91原创 Community Health and Hospital Foundation has also benefitted in many ways from donations received from Rotary, said foundation executive director Heather Scott.
"Last year Rotary funded new pain probes for our pain clinic. In previous years, Rotary has supported the hospitals many priority needs and has been pivotal in moving health care forward,鈥� Scott said.
鈥淩ibFest embodies community. Since the first RibFest in 2018, Rotary has donated almost $180,000 to 91原创鈥檚 community hospital,鈥� she added, noting that included money earmarked for the hospital鈥檚 ER department.
Visiting RibFest is a great way to have some fun and support the community all at the same time, said Davis, who is not only RibFest chair again this year, but also president of the Rotary Club of 91原创 Central.
鈥淩ibFest brings together the community, local charities and organizations, as well as businesses and local government to have a great three days of fun. Everyone working together to make this annual tradition happen demonstrates why 91原创 is a great place to live.鈥�
