MINTO – The eighth annual Andersons’ Community Christmas Dinner on Dec. 25 was a great success and now local residents will benefit from the event.
Organizers Jean and David Anderson, who annually offer a free meal to anyone looking to spend time with others on Christmas day, are ready once again to hand out gift cards to those who need help.
Last year’s dinner fed about 400 people and raised about $6,000.
“We have given $1,000 to the Rotary Club in Clifford because they helped us for years with loaning us their big roasters until we got some money,” said Jean.
“And this year we were recognized by the (first-ever) Think Turkey Wishbone Awards, and they gave us $5,000 as well.”
The Andersons used some of that money to buy new roasters for the Rotary Club.
“We’ve also given $2,000 to the Big Brothers and Big Sisters (BBBS) group in Mount Forest, because they’re really struggling [because of] COVID,” Jean explained.
The BBBS Bowl for Kids Sake event is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser, but a few years were missed due to the pandemic.
Another portion of the Christmas dinner funds went towards helping get supplies for future dinners as well as door and raffle prizes for the event.
“The rest will be in food cards,” said Jean.
Gift cards are available, to those “having trouble making ends meet,” for local stores in the Minto area, including Foodland, Acheson Pharmasave, Scoop It and local hardware stores.
Local residents in need of assistance can request a share of the $2,500 pool of gift cards to local businesses, which were purchased with donations received from the 2023 event.
Jean told the Advertiser not everyone may want to say they are struggling, but she and her husband want to help those who need it.
“We’re happy to disperse to people who are in need of that helping hand, whether its between food bank allotments, or just at the end of the month or whatever,” she said.
“If they need a hand, we can help out with some grocery cards.”
Those in need of help can reach Jean Anderson at jeanurse1@gmail.com or text 519-505-5914. Anderson noted texting is the best way to reach her.
