> Red light cameras, photo radar go active in Niagara West in Jan. /Pg 6 > Region recycling program changes coming Pg 5 > Tell us your best Christmas memory Pg 10 > Auxiliary hosts Breakfast with Santa this Saturday Pg 23 Thursday, December 14, 2023 Vol. 12 Issue 31
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An Evening of Giving Back, the inaugural Debbie Ecker Memorial Christmas Fundraiser brought a sellout crowd of 500 to Vineland Growers in Jordan, raising an astounding $90,000 for Community Care of West Niagara and Feed Niagara. (L-R) Vineland Growers CFO Nadia Kobylka; committee members Tammy Willard and Nancy Pye;
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Debbie’s family, daughter Laura Ecker, son Matt Ecker and husband Michael Ecker, President of Vineland Growers; committee members Mary-Jo Montalban and Leslie MacPherson; Carole Fuhrer, executive director CCWN; Lynda O’Donnell, CCWN manager of community engagement; and Paula Barrett, manager Feed Niagara. McDonald - Photo
Inaugural Ecker fundraiser generates $90K By Joanne McDonald NewsNow Debbie Ecker had a way of touching people and calling them to action. She spent her life doing countless acts of kindness for others and she made the community stronger. Compassionate, caring, funny and so courageous, her loss impacted the com-
munity immensely and she left a legacy as a true friend. Debbie organized an annual Christmas fundraiser for 13 years to help families in need. It was always her dream to make the event bigger, to reach more people. Honouring that dream and legacy, the community came together December 2
to celebrate and remember Debbie’s joy of life. An Evening of Giving Back, the 1st Annual Debbie Ecker Memorial Christmas Fundraiser brought a sellout crowd of 500 to Vineland Growers in Jordan, raising an astounding $90,000 for Community Care of West Niagara (CCWN) and Feed Niagara.
“There was an outpouring of community support,” said Debbie’s husband Michael Ecker, president of Vineland Growers. “A lot of pieces had to come together to make it happen,” including a committee spearheaded by Tammy Willard and Scott Wright. When Debbie became sick she felt bad as it was
too much to continue her Christmas fundraiser. She passed away July 2, 2021 of ovarian cancer. “Before she passed I told her what we were going to do,” Ecker said. Hundreds of people came together for the 1st annual evening of giving back. “It’s what she wanted,” See DEBBIE, Page 3