cktimes.ca Archives: Another good news story for United Way via Leon Leclair.....

Originally posted on: Tuesday, August 17, 2010


David Drouillard is the Assistant Executive Director with United Way of Chatham-Kent.  “Here’s what happens in a community that simply continues to grow more caring and more concerned about all this ‘improving lives … building community’ stuff.  What happens is that wonderful people begin doing some pretty wonderful things.

 

Three years ago Leon Leclair began to wonder how to connect the rural communities’ substantial generosity with the real needs of people everywhere in Chatham-Kent.  And to do that in a way that celebrates and defines for us all the many contributions – too often unnoticed – flowing through-out Chatham-Kent from rural populations, rural families and hundreds of ag-based businesses.

 

The result was Bushels of Hope – a program driven by a passionate committee of ag-based individuals – which has successfully managed to keep the lines of communication and celebration open.  By serving to both highlight the contributions to our communities by “donors rural” they have also served to help inform the “families rural” of the many fine programs, services and agencies working to help out those families.

 

Leon continues to Chair the Bushels of Hope Committee and continues to seek support for the work of the committee (since no campaign donor dollars are allocated to this committee) and each year they have achieved more recognition, more sharing of information and a closer feeling of “we’re all in this together”. 

 

Here then is yet another message from the Bushels Team.”

 

Leon Leclair emails:

“Hey all, another good ag news story.  On August 6 local business Devolder Farms held their annual golf day at Countryview Golf.  Approximately 50 people were in attendance for the fun day. In the picture are Diane Devolder, owner (red shirt),Leon Leclair (me – also in a red shirt),Stacey Devolder, employee with Devolder Farms and Co-Chair of this year’s United Way Campaign and Bob Devolder owner.

 

Bob and his family-run business continue year after year to lead the way in our great community by stepping up and supporting worthy causes like United Way.  Today, proceeds from a 50/50 putt contest on the practice green netted the Bushels of Hope Program $106 dollars since the winner of the contest, Dover resident John Harris, donated his half as well!!

 

And then Bob and Diane announced another donation.  This time Devolder Farms donated 100 bushels of wheat (approximate value of $550) also to the Bushels of Hope Program.  You might as well know too that Devolder Farms have also become very supportive in this year’s Chatham-Kent Amazing Race where the dollars are also donated into United Way’s Community Fund (just like the Bushels of Hope dollars).  Of course if helps that their employee Stacey Devolder and her partner Jill Roe (from Bob n' Buoys) are teamed up (team “Dover Grown”) and will be doing their best on Saturday the 14th to win the Amazing Race.  Will sure look good if they can!!!

 

So, just wanted to say thanks Bob and Diane – and you too Stacey and Jill - for being such wonderful rural leaders.  We are all so very proud of all of you and so pleased to have your support for the Bushels of Hope and the agencies supported by BoH and your generous contributions.

Regards.  Leon Leclair – Proud to be a Farmer

 

‘Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful and most noble employment of man’. George Washington.”