Fundraiser to benefit two local agencies
When Christian Distefano began preparing for his birthday party last year, the Niagara Falls actor knew he wanted to focus his attention on making a difference in the lives of others.
He invited 19 friends to a St. Catharines recording studio in January 2016 and the group of youths wrote and recorded a song “We Are All the Same,” which focused on the issue of homelessness and hunger. He also asked guests to bring a food donation for Project SHARE in lieu of gifts.
Distefano, who has appeared in the horror film Clown and the children shows Paw Patrol and Odd Squad, last month filmed a video for the song and the music video will be officially unveiled at an upcoming pasta dinner to benefit Project SHARE and Niagara Falls Community Outreach.
“Hunger is a terrible thing and I feel that if we all work together then maybe we can actually change this global issue,” the 12-year-old said.
“This is not about me singing about people, this is about the people who are living on the streets and the people who are living in their houses who don’t have food in their fridge.”
The We are All the Same pasta dinner will be held June 17 at Niagara Falls Community Outreach on St. Lawrence Avenue.
“We are thrilled to invite the people of Niagara to our kitchen to view the video and enjoy our wonderful food,” said the agency’s fundraising chairwoman Chris Watling.
The upcoming event, she added, will help both agencies in their fight against hunger in Niagara.
“Not only does it demonstrate to the people of Niagara that the work of each agency complements each other, but it also emphasizes that we do partner with a common goal to help those who are challenged procuring nutrition.”
She said organizations such as Project SHARE and Niagara Falls Community Outreach rely on support from the community to meet the needs of those less fortunate.
The soup kitchen, for example, receives no government funding and relies on donations to survive. It provides provides 42,000 meal a year to those in need.
Meanwhile, approximately 100 families a day turn to Project SHARE for emergency food assistance.
“One hundred per cent of ticket sales and raffle sales will support both agencies equally,” Katie Cuviello, special events co-ordinator at Project SHARE, said of the upcoming event.
The fundraiser will include a penny raffle as well as a day-long food drive where people can drop off food donations, even if they are unable to attend the pasta dinner.
There will also be free family activities on site, with the parking lot being transformed into a traditional carnival.
Parking for the event, which runs from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., will be at the municipal parking lot at the corner of St. Lawrence Avenue and Huron Street.
Tickets for the pasta dinner are $20 for adults and $10 for children. For more information visit www.weareallthesame.ca.