Update Thursday, Dec 13 by R Dyok: 1,600 loaves of Dempster’s bread was distributed Thursday afternoon as the result of an RCMP brother and sister’s appearance on Amazing Race Canada.
Williams Lake Cst. Taylor Callens was on hand to assist Big Brothers and Big Sisters with the big donation.
“It was a result of one of the legs we did in Toronto where we got the $5,000 from Dempster’s, and I already volunteer with Big Brother Big Sisters and I know how much they do for the community so it gave me an opportunity to give more than just my volunteer time which is awesome,” Callens said.
“Now we can reach out to a bunch of different families.”
Callens has been a Big Brother to his little brother Kirby now for two years and said he enjoys hanging out with him being a kid again and doing activities such as bowling and ice hockey.
Receiving 600 loaves of bread was the Williams Lake Salvation Army with the remaining loaves going to community members and organizations including the Star Fish, Pregnancy Outreach, Community Living, and the Women’s Contact Society.
“It’s a wonderful donation for us to receive that we can then pass on to our clients so we’re very excited and grateful to accept it,” said Director of Family Services and Community Outreach with the Wiliams Lake Salvation Amry, Tamara Robinson.
“It is very, very busy. We’re currently providing Christmas hampers to over 1,300 people. 480 of those are children so we’re super busy at the center and we’re feeding about 120 people a day right now.”
Original Story Wednesday, Dec. 12 by Pat Matthews:
Participating in the Amazing Race Canada has turned into an amazing donation for one Williams Lake non-profit organization.
During one of the events, Constable Taylor Callens along with his sister won the Dempsters “Feed the Community” challenge and picked the Williams Lake Big Brothers and Big Sisters to be awarded with sixteen hundred loaves of white bread.
Tasha Pilkington works for Big Brothers and Big Sisters and remembers when Dempsters called to tell them the good news
“We were in shock. We were so happy, it took a moment to take it in, but we were very excited and we thought wow, we’re gonna feed the community. We’re so thankful to Taylor, he’s just amazing, truly, truly, amazing.”
Pilkington said any non-profit agency, anyone in need of bread, is invited to come to the Growers Direct Parking lot on Oliver Street in Williams Lake tomorrow afternoon at one.