Skip to content

Kinsmen Hot Dog sales net over $3,000 for Ladysmith Food Bank this year

And that’s just one of the many local beneficiaries of the club’s charity efforts
14821238_web1_20181124_140050
Kinsmen President, Jim Delcourt, hands $3,000 to Ladysmith Celebrations Society President Barry Frech. Frech said the he donation will go a long way toward making Ladysmith Days a successful event. (Gerry Beltgens photo)

Gerry Beltgens Special to the Chronicle

Kinsmen Club President Jim Delcourt was pretty excited that the club had once again raised more that $3,000 through the sale of hotdogs in front of the 49th Grocery in Ladysmith.

The Kinsmen have used the hot dog sales to raise money for the Food Bank for 10 years and have raised around $30,000 total.

“Ten years ago I was going by the food bank and saw and elderly woman standing in line with her head down. I felt I had to do something,” Delcourt said.

Delcourt presented the cheque to Ray Stokes from the Ladysmith Food Bank. The money will go directly into the Food Bank account at the 49th Parallel grocery store. Bulk purchasing and specials through the store allows the food bank to get as much as three times the dollar value which greatly increases the food available for the 300 to 350 people who regularly use it.

More than 40% of the recipients are children.

“I am absolutely blown away by the generosity of this town,” said Diane Stokes of the food bank, “People just give. They donate $20 and don’t take a hot dog. This is such a giving town.”

During the year the Kinsmen also donated $4,000 to the Festival of Lights Society, $3,000 to Ladysmith Celebrations and thousands more to soccer, baseball, football and skating programs. Kinsmen also support the Ladysmith Ambassador program, school scholarships and other community initiatives.

The club raises its money through grants and special fundraising events including tending bar at weddings. Kinsmen are working together with the other Ladysmith service clubs to build the new fitness trail around Forrest Field Sports Park.





Secondary Title