“No child should have to go to bed hungry,” says Dan Meadowcroft, who conceived of the idea for ’Twas the Bite Before Christmas in a coffee shop three years ago.
Stocking the shelves of Mississauga’s food banks is the thrust behind the community-based fundraiser, which will culminate in a festive turkey dinner for approximately 700 on December 13 at the Oasis Convention Centre.
The dinner will feature Matt Dusk singing the national anthem, and Mississauga South MPP Charles Sousa and Mississauga South MP Stella Ambler as honorary co-chairs. Author/educator/comedian John Fraser will be emcee. Cost for a table of 10 is $250 and tickets are available at the Port Credit BIA office (905-278-7742 or [email protected]).
A launch party for the Bite will be held at Roc’n Doc’s Live Music Grill on December 4, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Patrons are asked to bring donations of non-perishable food and pay a voluntary cover charge of $5, which will be donated to the fundraising campaign. Roc’n Doc’s will also host the wrap-up
party on December 18.
“Every single penny that’s donated is passed along to the food banks,” Meadowcroft says. “All of our costs are covered by sponsors, such as Compass Group Canada, Westaire Heating and Air Conditioning and Stavebank Florists.”
As part of the campaign, MPP Sousa is organizing his third annual turkey drive challenge to purchase turkeys for needy families. To sponsor the purchase of a turkey for $30 each, call Sousa’s constituency office at 905-274-8228.
Support for the initiative has been very strong, says Sousa: “I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of the community. It’s easy to do this when everybody says yes.”