Community Responds to Urgent Call for Paris Food Bank

Last week, William Ratelband issued a heartfelt plea for assistance to support the Paris food bank in its time of need. The call to action did not go unheard, as the Paris Independent newspaper swiftly published the appeal, prompting a local group to step up and answer the call.

The Friends of Dick Emerson Invitational golf tournament, having recently raised $15,000 for “Jump Start for Kids” which was matched by Canadian Tire, found themselves with some funds remaining in their coffers.

When Doug Stewart, Paul Emerson & John Emerson caught wind of the urgent plea for the food bank, they wasted no time in making a generous decision – to donate $1,500 towards the cause.

Left to Right: William Ratelband of the Salvation Army accepts a cheque from Doug Stewart & Jeff Johnston for $1,500.00 from the Friends of Dick Emerson Invitational charity Golf Tournament. If you want to donate the Salvation Army Food bank is located at 25B Dundas Street in Paris.

Expressing his gratitude, William Ratelband remarked, “I’m just incredibly grateful to our community and how well they responded. The weakest time for us is from after Easter to September; dynamics have changed, it has become more challenging, and there's more need in the community Anyone could be one paycheck away from needing help "

In a bid to inspire further acts of kindness, the Friends of Dick Emerson have issued a challenge to the wider community, urging others to either match or surpass their donation. This gesture exemplifies the power of unity and solidarity in times of crisis, underscoring the importance of community support in tackling local challenges.