HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-04-27, Page 22Philippines
fundraising
dinner in Clinton
Valerie Gillies
Postmedia Network
The second annual Philippines
fundraising dinner was held on
April 2 at the Heartland Commu-
nity Church in Clinton. This dinner
supports two charities, Sleeping
Children Around the World
(SCAW) and Harvest of Love.
By donating to SCAW, people
can purchase bed kits with the
knowledge that 100 percent of their
donation will be given to children
living in poverty. The kits include
such items as a sleeping mat, mos-
quito net, clothing, personal
hygiene
items and school supplies. Hus-
band and wife Chris and Gail Hills
volunteer with SCAW. Volunteers
can go overseas to assist with giv-
ing out the bed kits once per year.
This is the last year Chris will be
going to the Philippines as SCAW
requires team leaders to change
which country they visit after four
years. SCAW facilitates 12-13 distri-
butions per year, giving out
between 5,000-6,000 bed kits per
visit to each country. Chris explains
that many of the villages that he
has visited consist of homes that
are approximately 20 feet by 20 feet
with a dirt floor and no amenities
of any kind. Many of the villages
are on river flats that flood every
year. The families are living in
extreme poverty.
The Harvest of Love was founded
by Charie Hendrick. This is a fam-
ily -run charity to feed less fortu-
nate people near her home in the
Philippines.
The Fundraising Dinner began
as a different project in 2014, when
Hurricane Hayan struck the Philip-
pines. The Canadian Filipino com-
munity realized that they needed
help and held the first Philippines
Fundraising Dinner. The first din-
ner was such a success that it was
decided to hold it again, but this
time making it a combined fund-
raiser for the two charities with half
of the proceeds going to each.
Chris Hills explains that every-
thing is donated by the Filipino
community to run this dinner,
except the church hall. All of the
food is brought in as a donation
and Lilia Hill, owner of Lil's Kitchen
in Clinton, shuts down her restau-
rant for the day and volunteers to
cook all of the food.
Chris states, "There is a large
number of Filipinos in the area.
They are all very involved in sup-
porting each other and those still in
the Philippines." This is part of their
culture. Hill explains that even in
the Philippines the people are very
generous, even the poorest of the
poor give to others.
Gail Hills comments, "It is like a
big party every time there is a
fundraising dinner. It draws the
community together to support
each other. Where there is food
and people gather it is a social
event." This is quite evident as
there is lots of laughing, hugging
and chatting going on throughout
the day.
Chris Hills reported that the
response this year is much higher
than the previous year. The plan is
to continue holding the Philippines
Fundraising Dinner as an annual
fundraiser. Not only does it bring
together the Filipino community,
but gives the general public a
chance to taste the fare while sup-
porting the two charities. The hosts
of this even are very grateful for the
continuing support of all members
of the local community for this
project.
For more information contact
Chris and Gail Hills at 519-522-
1913 or kithills@hotmail.com.
For more details on Sleeping
Children Around the World visit
www.scaw.org.
To learn more about Harvest of
Love contact Charie Hendrick at
519-238-1565.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016 • Huron Expositor 23
Valerie Gillies/Postmedia Network
The organizing team for the Philippines Fundraising Dinner held at Heartland Community Church in Clinton on April 2 are:
Charie Hendrick, Founder of Harvest of Love; Gail and Chris Hills, volunteers of Sleeping Children Around the World; Lilia
Hill, owner of Lil's Kitchen in Clinton, cook for the dinner.
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