Residents of South Simcoe are invited to enjoy a grand old time in grand style, and all for a good cause.
As part of a national event in support of aging Canadians, CONTACT Community Services is gearing up to host the second annual Grand Parade walk in Bradford and Alliston on Sept. 21 to raise funds for the local charity.
That’s intended to help CONTACT in their ongoing efforts to assist seniors facing hurdles, especially when it comes to housing, according to Brenda Pufek, manager of development and community engagement.
“It’s definitely a strong need for housing in South Simcoe for seniors,” she said. “Our team is working hard to be there and support as they can and this fundraiser will give us the opportunity.”
Both events are set to start with check in at 10 a.m. including face painting and inflatable games for kids, plus music and a warm up in Bradford from Cathy-Zumba in da House, before the walk kicks off at 11 a.m. led by a bagpiper.
Participants can look forward to a light lunch with barbecue from Perfect SZN and pizza from Gino’s Pizza, plus water refill stations along the route for reusable water bottles.
Everything is set to wrap up by about 1 p.m.
On their YouTube page, CONTACT hosts testimonials from some of the seniors they’ve helped find housing, including a woman identified as Roslyn, who said she was living in an “eight-by-ten room” with no plumbing before the charity was able to find her a “beautiful apartment.”
“I’m so, so grateful to CONTACT. They’ve helped me tremendously. My life is much better now than it was,” she said in the video.
In another video, a man identified as David said the staff and volunteers at CONTACT helped him secure long-term rental housing.
“When you’re a senior and don’t have access to the internet and all that good stuff, you need somebody who understands the laws and the right ways and the wrong ways to look for homes,” he said.
In both towns, the parade routes are about five kilometres with rest points half way, and set to begin at Banting Memorial High School, 203 Victoria St. E., in Alliston with a loop around the high school, and at Perfect SZN, 100 Dissette St. in Bradford from which participants will walk along Holland St. E. up to the historic four corners and back.
Following last year’s success, the Bradford walk has been given its own focus and has already raised more than $4,000 of its $20,000 goal, while the Alliston walk has already raised almost $8,000 of its $30,000 goal.
Grand Parade T-shirts will be provided to adults who raise more than $150, and youth who raise more than $75, and there will also be prizes for the most raised by an individual, the most raised by a team, and the best team spirit.
Participants and teams are even welcome to wear costumes to make the event that much more fun.
There is no registration fee required to participate and more information can be found on the individual event websites for Bradford and Alliston.
A registered charity with more than 46 years of service in South Simcoe, CONTACT Community Services has offices in both Bradford and Alliston offering employment and housing supports as well as community engagement programs, plus gently used clothing and household items at The Clothes Line thrift store, which also has locations in both towns.
The charity estimates their programs help more than 3,500 families, adults, seniors and youth from all cultural, social, and economic backgrounds every year.
For more information, visit www.contactcommunityservices.ca.
