News

Peach Sale Fundraiser

01 Sep 2021

Volunteers from all five founding parishes worked together for a successful peach sale on August 21 – the first fundraising event for Immanuel Parish. The new parish decided to continue the peach sale which All Saints parish started in 2010, and held every year except for 2020 (due to COVID).

As usual, customers picked up cases of peaches in a drive-through set up in the parking lot behind the Immanuel location on Massey Road. Just over 1,100 cases were sold, including 50 cases which St. Cuthbert parish in Dysart ordered for its own sale. About 25 volunteers from the parish, plus about eight members of the local Eritrean community, ensured that traffic moved smoothly and cases were quickly delivered into trunks and back seats. In recent years the Eritreans had been key helpers at the All Saints peach sale. They have volunteered in part to show their appreciation to the parish and diocese for sponsoring many refugees.

Following the practice established by All Saints, Immanuel will donate 10 per cent of net proceeds to outreach.

The new parish was not able to sell peach pies, crisps and other baking, or jam, salsa and chutney, which had been offered in previous years, and only whole cases were available. Despite these changes, many customers told the workers that they had missed the sale last year and were glad it was happening again.

Instead of parishioners pre-selling tickets for cases of peaches, Immanuel moved to on-line ordering. Discussions and planning began in May, as the new parish decided what they would be able to do, and how. The weather, which had been stormy, was clear and balmy on the day of the sale, ideal for working outside. It was an excellent way for people from the legacy parishes to work with each other and get to know each other.

The planning group included Linda Hagen, Pat Hall, Kurtis Krug, Gwen Rupchan and Jenny Williams.

Photos courtesy of Joanne Shurvin-Martin and Dave Williams