Only a few days left to order your “spaghetti box”
Le Souper du Partage is a Magog charity focused on funding, assembling, and delivering holiday food baskets. It celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2019, but, like so many others, has been forced to modify its approach in 2020.
Over the first quarter-century of the organization’s existence, the tradition has been to bring together close to 1,500 people for an annual spaghetti supper which has regularly generated more than $100,000 for the cause.
In light of the pandemic and the associated restrictions on the size of public gatherings and social distancing rules, the organizing team has pivoted this massive fundraising activity to drive-thru, at-home model reliant on the creation of pre-made “spaghetti boxes.”
Since mid-september, the organization has been pre-selling the meal boxes, which will include spaghetti, fresh sauce, bread rolls and alcohol. via its website www. souperdupartage.com. The exact contents of each box vary depending on the package chosen, with options ranging in cost from $25 to $75. Those who order boxes will be able to pick them up on November 7, in the afternoon, at La Ruche high school. Participants will be invited to prepare a good meal of spaghetti at home that evening and try to recreate the usual festive atmosphere of the larger gathering by tuning in to a special program that will be broadcast on the local community television network Noustv (channel 3 or 555 in HD). The broadcast will include a musical performance by JF Gosselin and some interviews conducted by Éric G. Langlois.
There are only a few days left for the Souper du Partage supporters - old and new - to make a donation or purchase a “spaghetti box” to replace the annual November event. Note that orders will be accepted until Sunday, November 1 inclusively.
Other support options are available to the population for those not interested in or able to participate in the modified spaghetti supper. Donations, purchase of jars of sauce, and sponsorship of a family in need are all alternative options which also exist. Businesses can also partner with Le Souper du Partage to help support the cause.
Due to the broader uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizing committee cannot yet confirm whether the other annual activity, the preparation of nearly 400 food baskets, will be able to take place in the same format as usual on the premises of the presenting partner, Provigo Magog, or if a new formula will need to be implemented in order to be in compliance with public health instructions. The decision is expected to be made in mid-november.
Regardless of how that later activity comes together, however, the distribution of Christmas baskets to the families of the Magog community who have requested them beforehand at the Memphrémagog Food Bank is still scheduled for December 20.
In 25 years, more than $ 1.75 million in sponsorships and donations of all kinds have been accumulated through this fundraising activity, allowing the distribution of some 6,600 baskets.