The deal for this combo meal can't be beat.
For the third year, the Cochrane Immigrant Services Committee (CISC) is hosting Taste Delights and Raise Goodness — a fundraiser and silent auction that fills bellies and supports newcomers to Cochrane.
"Funds raised from this event will go toward the activities and supports that allow newcomers to Cochrane to feel integrated and included into the community," explained CISC board member Jaya Dixit. "And then, hopefully, eventually, they can see themselves as part of the fabric of Cochrane."
Twenty dollars buys a Chinese Wok meal box that can be filled with vegetable fried rice, vegetarian chow mein, stir-fried vegetables, sweet and sour chicken, or a combination of all four options. It comes in a large serving that can easily feed one person, potentially two.
Proceeds collected from the meals will allow the non-profit organization to plan events like the Jingle Mingle, an annual holiday occurrence where those who don't have family or friends to spend Christmas Day with, can enjoy a warm bowl of soup, coffee or hot chocolate and conversation with other locals, at no cost.
It also allows them to continue offering on-the-ground support and direction to newcomers who may not know where to turn, or know what resources are available to them.
"CISC is really active in maintaining a really aggregated sense of what kind of supports are critical when folks are new to Canada or new to Cochrane," said Dixit. "That could be, for instance, directing them to a bank where they can set up an account that's specifically intended for folks who are new.
"Newcomers is a really broad term, and that newcomer experience isn't homogeneous — it can be really different depending on whether you're a newcomer to the area from the east coast, from the U.S., from India, or from somewhere else across the world."
The types of challenges people face can vary from adjusting to an English-speaking culture, experiencing one's first Canadian winter, finding employment, or learning how to support one's children throughout their first school year in a new place.
"Our goal really is to know newcomers in a way that we can understand their story and their needs and support them in finding their way to settle in Cochrane in a way that's in alignment with their goals and dreams," Dixit said.
Meal boxes can be ordered from now until March 9, which will mark the start of fundraiser and online silent auction that lasts until March 16. Those who order meal boxes will receive a complete list of auction items when they pick up their food ahead of when the auctions goes live for everyone else.
Included in some of the items up for bid is a week of summer camp courtesy of BGC Cochrane and Area.
Combo boxes can be picked up between 5-7 p.m. on March 9 at the Chinese Wok located at 22 Westside Drive and auction bidding will be open to everyone through a link set to go live on the Newcomer's Cochrane Facebook page and Instagram at 7 p.m. that evening.
The committee is hoping to surpass the $2,000 they raised though the event last year.
To order a meal box, contact [email protected] or call 403-702-5675.
