Lakeshore Advance, 2013-03-20, Page 10•
1 0 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Alhamb
Gord Whitehead •
As sure as the thousands of tun-
dra swans faithftlly touch down in
Lambton's Kiondyke district near
the middle of March, so do more
than a hundred developmentally
challenged persons find welcome
respite and food in the same area.
For more than 30 years, Grand
Bend's Algarva Caravan #168 of the
International Order of Alhambra
has been brightening a late winter
ted wagon rides and Pia party
day for group home clients by
delighting them at its Kiondyke
Road meeting place with outdoor
wagon rides and an indoor pizza
Ona wind -chilled and snowflur-
ried Wednesday of last week, 117
developmentally challenged folks
and their support workers from
across Southwestern Ontario were
snugly dressed and blanketed for
tours of the area.
Alhambrans Joe Donkers Frank
Stokkermans and Bill Vandenberk
provided their farm tractors, wagons
and straw bale seats. With Christina
Dare at the reins, Lee Garnham
again contributed his registered Bel-
gians "Tara' and 'Kara for a more
tradldonal wagon tour of the area.
Referring to the biting breeze,
event co-ordinator Jack Van Haastert
told The Advance, 'We drive around
in a sheltered area. We've done this
for 31 years and somehow the
weather never seems to be a
negative factor. It is part of the event
to be dressed warm and come in for
a hot chocolate after. Some clients
go for a ride three or four times
regardless of the cold:'
Van Haastert said 25 Alhambrun
volunteers were involved in helping
load up the wagons and in prepar-
ing and serving a noon pizza
luncheon.
Algarva Caravan #168 now has 66
members, said Grand Commander
Gerry Forster who holds the
distinction of having served as
supreme commander for all of Can-
ada and The United States.
Women now are being accepted.
Algarva Caravan #168 has two
female members, with a third pon-
dering the move. "You need only to
be 18 and Catholic and devote two
hours a month," said Forster. The
caravan meets at 8:30 p.m. on the
last Thursday of every month, "We're
a very tight knit group of people, he
told The Advance.
4.40.1414166410461.0104061116.1141440.11.4.' •
Lokeiehae Adw�ce
Three farmers who are Membrane also domed the services of their tractors, wagons
toand elm bales froM sworkers
upport
al Southwestern rn Ontar�o communities. '1 toured the oe district south
itivi4t QOtld 1101 13th.
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Iliad Whitehead Lakeshore Advance
Perennially popular pullers
at the international Order of
Alhambra Algarve Caravan
0168 Grand Bend wagon
rides for developmentally
challenged guests are
Forest area resident
Lee Garnham's team of
registered Belgians 'Tara',
on the left and 'Kara'.
Christina Dare shared the
rein control duties with
Garnham. Standing beside
the wagon Is Alhambran
Jack Van Haastert, co-
ordinator of the annual
event.
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