A surprise delivery to Orillia Youth Centre director Kevin Gangloff led to 125 people receiving free Easter dinner on the weekend.
Marci Csumrik, a real-estate agent with RE/MAX Orillia who volunteers at the youth centre, dropped off a meal for Gangloff. That’s when he asked her if she would help organize an effort to feed youth centre families, too.
“It all unfolded from there in the span of an afternoon,” Gangloff said.
The youth centre, thanks to donations from community members — who wanted to remain anonymous — and Home Depot, was able to purchase 35 chicken dinners for four from Swiss Chalet and divvy them up for 125 people.
Youth centre staff member Tyhme Thompson pulled up contact information for the families and invited them to pick up their meals outside of the RE/MAX offices at Neywash and Front streets. Meals were delivered to those who couldn’t pick them up.
“They all were happy and smiling. They thanked us so much,” said Csumrik, who pitched in to purchase drinks and dessert to go with the meals.
Csumrik was joined by some of her family members, as well as her assistant, Emily DiLecce, who declined an offer of pay to help out. Some of them were “moved to tears” as they watched people pick up the meals.
“To see how appreciative the families were and how positive they were was special,” Csumrik said. “It’s so important to give back to the community. There are so many of us that have so much and it’s important that we share.”
Were it not for the COVID-19 pandemic, the youth centre would have been hosting an Easter dinner at the Front Street facility for its young visitors and their families.
“Our community meals are among our most special times at the youth centre,” Gangloff said. “Knowing that we couldn’t do it right now, to be able to share a meal — even if it’s by dropping it off or picking it up — was really important. It means a lot to us to be able to do that.”
Gangloff stood across the street to wave and say hello to visitors as they arrived to pick up their meals.
“They’re very appreciative, but we get as much out of it as they do,” he said. “It’s one of the nicest things we’ve been able to do.”
He thanked Csumrik and others who volunteered to make the Easter meals possible. He also praised the Home Depot Canada Foundation, whose Orange Door Project would typically be happening right now in support of the youth centre. It has donated $5,000 to the local organization to help it through the pandemic.
