Tickets had sold out for the annual Food for Thought dinner, a fundraising event for The Mount Community Centre on September 29th. As 120 guests gathered in the newly named Austin Doran Hall (formerly the chapel of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peterborough), they sat down at an elegantly set table to discover by lot whether their meal was to be prime rib with all the trimmings or spaghetti with a simple sauce. The more fortunate half spontaneously offered to share, or enjoyed the better plate with a bit of discomfort. Such a concrete experience of inequality gave all present cause to reflect on poverty and injustice in our society and the need to do something to help. The fact that the room was filled with people who have done much to alleviate poverty in our area resulted in a spirit of joy and fellowship that permeated the room.
This gathering was also called to be a celebration of what has been accomplished to this point at The Mount Community Centre. The first phase, the construction of 43 apartments, was completed almost a year ago. The guest speakers were two tenants from the complex who silenced the room with their stories of how so many have worked together and supported one another in such a way that they are no longer only neighbours but friends. Pat Ainsworth commented on a life-changing move for some into safe, affordable, clean homes and sincerely expressed her gratitude to the donors and volunteers assembled, saying: “This is a wonderful community and it would not exist without your support and generosity.” Jim Jamieson echoed her message, and described how the tenants have merged into a community, meeting weekly for games and music nights in the common room.
A third dimension of the evening was the announcement by the board chair, Stephen Kylie, of a new fundraising campaign to build the community food centre, and to undertake the construction of more than 40 new apartments. He introduced the campaign team that has so far accepted this responsibility, and 8 prominent and accomplished citizens of Peterborough rose to receive his acknowledgement, and the support of the gathering.
In the outline of future plans, Mr. Kylie announced an exciting partnership with a recently incorporated group known as Shared Dreams for Independent Living. This is a group of 5 families who have joined together to create a supportive, person-centered, family-directed and driven, permanent home for their sons living with developmental challenges, who have chosen to live their lives together. They have chosen The Mount Community Centre as their preferred home because the vision and mission of this project clearly reflects their own.
The evening was truly a celebration of an impossible dream that has been partially realized in the community experience of tenants in the 43 finished apartments, and in the growing interest in and use of portions of the building and grounds that continues to expand. This dream finds hope in the commitment of staff and volunteers who have faithfully and generously worked toward its fulfillment without counting the cost. This dream now holds an energy that will carry it forth to new and exciting phases that are yet to be shaped.
Joan Driscoll, csj