By Cecilia Nasmith
The St. George's Anglican Church second annual Pancake Brunch fundraiser for Habitat For Humanity Northumberland did even better than the first one last year – going from more than $2,000 raised to almost $3,000 raised.
When the clean-up was done at the Grafton church and the donations were counted, Community and Fund Development Co-ordinator Melissa Morrison reports that the community showed their support to the tune of $2,833.
“We all had a fantastic time, and truly appreciate the support of our friends at the church,” Morrison said.
Habitat set up at a table just inside the entrance to the church's Canon Nind Hall to accept donations (the brunch itself was free, but the church encouraged everyone to show their support). Just to show the kind of work they would be supporting, a gingerbread scale model of what will soon be the completed seven-unit townhouse development in Baltimore was set up, complete with parking spaces and rooftop solar panels. The artist was also present – Gary Ruffello, winner of Habitat's ninth annual Gingerbread Festival in the professional division.
Volunteers were kept busy over the two hours of the event and, at the end, cook Liam Cragg estimated they had fed 80 to 100. Judging by what he termed the sausage count, fellow volunteer Dick Raymond agreed.
After the pancakes, sausages, fruit cocktail and home-made goodies for dessert, there was a parting gift by the door to take home – a tray of fudge and a large vase with several dozen red roses.
Meaning, Raymond noted, that for each lady who took a single rose home with her, there was a gentleman who could get away with buying her only 11 on Valentine's Day.
