On Sept. 14 from 2.30 to 5.30pm, parishioners from St. James in Fergus and St. John in Elora Anglican Churches offer a Harvest Tea to raise funds for the draught stricken people of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
While enjoying good company, sandwiches and desserts in the Butterfly Garden by the Grand at St. James Church, 171 Queen Street East in Fergus, guests will know that they are linked in compassion to about ten million people through to their next harvest.
All proceeds will go to the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund of the Anglican Church of Canada. It works with relief agencies in East Africa and with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Through its member agencies and with support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the food grains bank has been responding to food needs in the region since March; to date, it has committed $7.2-million to projects that will reach over 230,000 people.
“In the past, there was a cyclical draught every seven years; now, it’s every second year,” said Doris M’Timkulu, development fund coordinator for the Anglican Diocese of Niagara. Jim Cornelius, director of food grains bank, added, “Escalating food prices are making food unaffordable in many parts. Whereas in January of this year, a Kenyan nomadic farmer had to sell one goat to pay for a bag of corn, in June he had to sell four goats for the same bag.”
The need is great, and much more will need to be done over the coming weeks, months and years to help people move from emergency relief to sustainable development.
Tickets are $7.50, with children under age 5 are free. For further information, phone 843-2141 or 843-1846.
