A fundraiser is being held for the Bracebridge Manna Food Bank in memory of a young woman who died tragically in a snowmobile accident.
Katie Courtnage passed away in January 2018 and the fundraiser is spearheaded by her mother Michelle Courtnage in her memory.
The year Katie passed, an initial dinner was hosted as a thank you to family and friends who helped out that first year in their home – the effort ended up raising 155 lbs of food donations & $500.
Then in 2019 their support group grew and their friend Tim Salouros, owner of Nick’s Restaurant (in photo below with Michelle (left) and his wife Robin (right)) in Bracebridge opened his doors to a plate of spaghetti in return for food bank donations.
That year they raised 300 lbs of food and $1,000.
“Unfortunately we were unable to get together during Covid,” says Michelle. “Re-opening 2022, full steam-ahead and we have gotten larger every year.”
In 2022 they raised a truck load of food and $1,500. Then in 2023 they took two truck loads of food and $500.
As in years past, everyone is welcome to this year’s fundraiser – you can purchase a Plate for Hunger for $15.
This year the dish will be homemade Chicken Alfredo which was Katie’s favourite dish at Nick’s.
This year’s effort is also being hosted on what would have been Katie’s 30th birthday, Saturday Nov 2nd which makes it extra special.
It goes from 3-7 pm at Nick’s, which is located at 146 Kimberley Avenue.
The goal this year is to raise three truckloads of food donations and $3,000.
To learn more about the dinner fundraiser you can contact Michelle Courtnage ahead of time at 705-205-4304 or via email at mcourtnage1007@gmail.com
Photos via Michelle Courtnage