Kindness Meters Collecting for the Community

For Immediate Release

May 11, 2016 – Colchester’s kindness just keeps rolling in. In the short time that old parking metres were placed in Downtown Truro to collect donations for local charities and non-profits, cheques have been written to four organizations totalling close to $850. The four groups on the receiving end so far are The Colchester Food Bank, The Truro Homeless Outreach Society, Third Place Transition House and the Christmas Index Program.

“This partnership between the Bible Hill Kinsmen, the Town of Truro and the Downtown Truro Partnership has made excellent use of people’s spare change,” said Quinn McCarthy, project chair with the Bible Hill Kinsmen. “This is money that these four groups would not have otherwise had and every bit counts when trying to serve the community’s greatest need.”

“These are very worthy organizations and we are very proud to continue to support this project,” said Debbie Elliot, Executive Director of the Downtown Truro Partnership. “Keep that spare change coming in!”

“This is a very unique partnership between a municipality, local service organization and business community that has gained regional and national attention,” added Truro Mayor Bill Mills. “It’s a great example of what can happen when groups work together towards a common goal.”

From the months of May to September, three new groups will be receiving proceeds from the Kindness Metres. These are the Boys and Girls Club of Truro and Colchester, Children’s Wish Foundation – Nova Scotia Chapter and the CEC Safe Grad Program.

-30-

For media inquiries:
Quinn McCarthy
Bible Hill Kinsmen
(902) 890-6330
kindnessmeters@biblehillkinsmen.ca

Disaster Response for Fort McMurray

From Grant Ferron, Executive Director of Kin Canada:

We all have watched the horrific events that are continuing to unfold in Fort McMurray and for most of us, we can hardly fathom the depth of devastation that has befallen on this community, its people and our members. Everyone remains in our hearts and prayers.

In the truest Kin fashion, members across the Country have expressed their concern as well as hope through pledging support in any way possible.

District 4 has been very quick to establish a District Response Team to help coordinate, liaise and manage Kin Canada’s response to this devastating event. Both National President Kin Peters and I commend the swift action of District 4 in the mobilization of their resources and the leadership provided by Governors Corie Brand and Dan Gosse as well as Sean Libin, LeAnne Christiansen and Angela Jenkins.

Last night, members of the District Response Team joined a call with the Governors, National President Kim and I. The call helped to synchronize our immediate response while also discussing what might be required of us in the months ahead. We all agreed that it is important that Kin Canada members have a way to express their support in a timely way.

We will be providing details on how Clubs can contribute either through the National Disaster Relief Fund or through the Kin Canada Foundation. We want to make sure that funding is set up in such a way that it allows for both the immediate and longer term needs of this community. This will take a few days to ensure we provide the right guidance to Clubs.

The Kin Canada Foundation has provided a donation access point for individuals wishing to contribute right away. In this manner, individuals can obtain tax receipts (the Foundation is a registered charity and is enabled to donate funds on your behalf to other charitable entities). More information on this can be found on the Kin Canada Foundation website at www.kincanadafoundation.ca and follow the “Donate Now” link.

The Red Cross also has a page where you can donate as well: http://www.redcross.ca (Organizations can also contribute through this page as well)

We are told that our Kin family in Fort McMurray are all safe and some are already rolling up their sleeves to help. A fitting tribute to the spirit of this Association and its members. We will continue to keep them all in our thoughts.

Kinsmen Report: April

The Bible Hill Kinsmen recently presented a $6,000 cheque to the We Care About Cancer Fund earlier this month.

The proceeds came from the Great Trivia Challenge, which was held in February. Thanks to everyone who came out for that event and supported this great cause. The rest of the money raised from that event will be distributed by the Kinsmen through our various initiatives in the community.

April is rolling on and spring has finally arrived. That means it’s time to look ahead to the annual Kinsmen pork chop dinner. It will be held May 19 at the Bible Hill Village Hall from 4:30 to 6 p.m. All Kinsmen members have tickets or you can email porkchop@biblehillkinsmen.ca. The pork chops are from Ebbett’s Meadow Brook Farm Market in Tatamagouche. The dinner also includes a baked potato, coleslaw, a roll and piece of pie.

We’d also like to say thank you for your continued support of the kindness meters in downtown Truro. It’s been a huge success so far and we will soon be looking at switching recipients of the money which you’re generously donating in these meters.

The Bible Hill Kinsmen hold meetings on the first and third Thursday of the month, from September to June, at 7:30 p.m. We’d love to see you there. If you’re interested in joining us for a meeting, or would like more information, email president@biblehillkinsmen.ca.

James Faulkner is a member of the Bible Hill Kinsmen

Bible Hill Kinsmen, NovelTea Bookstore Cafe partner for the 1st Annual Colchester Book Fair

novelteaFor Immediate Release

April 22, 2016 – Book Lovers Rejoice! The Bible Hill Kinsmen, in partnership with NovelTea Bookstore Café, are proud to continue a decade’s long community tradition and will be hosting a book fair this Spring. On June 3rd and 4th, the 1st Annual Colchester Book Fair will assume the annual book sale that was previously run by the Canadian Federation of University Women. Proceeds from the event will support the Colchester East Hants Library Foundation and other Kinsmen community projects.

“Members of our club were very excited to hear that a worthy organization like the Kinsmen has stepped forward to carry on the fundraising legacy of CFUW Truro,” said Corinne Cameron, local CFUW member. “It is fitting that we pass the sale to a group that values literacy and supports charities and organizations that enrich our community.”

With the recent news of the sale discontinuing after 51 years in the community, NovelTea Bookstore Café owner, Jeremy DeVito knew this was something that needed to live on in the community.

“I felt strongly that NovelTea should step up to the challenge of continuing the tradition from which we have benefited and received such enjoyment in the past,” said DeVito. “We’re proud to partner with a community-minded organization like the Bible Hill Kinsmen on this event.”

The sale will continue to be a two-day event. It will take place on Friday, June 3rd, from 6 to 9 pm, and again on Saturday, June 4th, from 9 am to 4 pm. It has relocated to the Eagles Landing Building at 510 Prince Street (former MacQuarries Pharmasave location).

“As with so many of our other events, we wouldn’t be successful without the support of the local community,” said Drew Douglas, President of the Bible Hill Kinsmen. “In the weeks leading up to the event, we’re asking the public to donate their books, comic books, games, puzzles, DVDs and CD’s and records at one of our six dropoff locations around town.”

A complete list of drop off locations and other details on the resurrected book fair can be found by visiting biblehillkinsmen.ca or facebook.com/bhkinsmen.

-30-

For media inquiries:

Quinn McCarthy
Bible Hill Kinsmen
(902) 890-6330
bookfair@biblehillkinsmen.ca

Drop off locations for donations:

Enterprise Rent-A-Car
310 Prince St.
Truro

NovelTea Bookstore Cafe
3 Pleasant St.
Truro

Century Hyundai
138 Main St
Bible Hill
Ask for Quinn

Shur Gain Feeds n Needs
464 Willow Street
Truro

Fundy Appliance
178 Pictou Rd
Bible Hill

Sobeys
68 Robie Street
Fundy Trail Mall

Contact Number for Large Lot Pickups: 902-956-3319
Contact Number for Information: 902-897-6575
Contact Email for Information: bookfair@biblehillkinsmen.ca

Pork Chop Dinner Tickets Available

It’s that time of year again! Our annual pork chop dinner will be held on May 19th at the Bible Hill Village Hall. All Kinsmen members have tickets available, or you can email porkchop@biblehillkinsmen.ca.

The pork chops themselves are from Ebbett’s Meadow Brook Farm Market in Tatamagouche.

You can get all this food for only $10, and you get to help us in our efforts to help the community’s greatest needs!

Trivia Night Cheque Presentation

Due to the money recently raised at the Great Trivia Challenge, we were able to present a cheque for $6,000 to the We Care About Cancer Fund.

In this photo are (Left to right) A.J. Cunningham from the Colchester East Hants Health Centre Foundation, Geoff Hamlin from the Bible Hill Kinsmen, Raj Makkar, Chemotherapy Manager and representing the We Care about Cancer Fund, Cancer Patient Navigator Darlene Holmes and Bible Hill Kinsmen Life Member Ken Wynn.

Thanks to everyone who came out for the Challenge and supported this great cause!

Kinsmen Report: March

Hello all, it’s Fernando from the Bible Hill Kinsmen. What a February and March we had! I hope you’re all enjoying the abnormally warm snowless days!

February was a busy month with several events, which culminated at the end of the month with the 3rd Annual Great Trivia Challenge at the Best Western Glengarry. It was a night of prizes, food, and of course a trivia showdown. The night consisted of ten rounds of trivia with ten questions per round. The winning team was the Captain Crunch & the Cereal Killers from New Glasgow Kinsmen (and no we didn’t give them the answers), who posted a score of 95 correct answers, wow! Hot on their heels were the crew from Icehogs who scored 94 and rounding out the top three was the Smartie Pints with 92. There were over 320 people in teams of eight playing and raising money for the Colchester East Hants Health Centre Foundation’s “We Care About Cancer” Fund and other community projects supported by the Kinsmen.

There was a balloon pop, where the grand prize was a $750 Inglis Jewelers gift certificate, as well as a silent auction with a great collection of prizes and there was also a 50/50 draw. In the end, the Kinsmen were able to donate $6,000 to Colchester East Hants Health Centre Foundation. Keep an eye out for this event again next year, and make sure you get your table in early as we sold out quickly this year. Thank you to everyone who took part and to those who volunteered with us to help make the night a huge success.

We put on a free skate and swim on the 21st of February at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre in celebration of National KINdness Day. The turnout was excellent and we hope all enjoyed the day.

Tickets for our annual Pork Chop dinner will soon be making their way out. It will be held on Thursday, May 19th, so get your tickets early.

The Bible Hill Kinsmen meet every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Douglas Street Recreation Centre. If you think you might be interested in joining us for a meeting please contact: president@biblehillkinsmen.com.

Fernando Afonso is a member of the Bible Hill Kinsmen

Power Play Program Donations

The Bible Hill Kinsmen were in attendance at the Truro Bearcats game tonight against the Pictou County Weeks Crushers to present cheques totaling $4,800 to multiple organizations through the Powerplay Program.

Now in it’s 14th year, the Bible Hill Kinsmen donate $100 per home game or $200 if the Bearcats score a powerplay goal that night. A charity is chosen for each home game and they rotate throughout the season.

The charities for the 2015-16 Maritime Hockey League season were the CEC Scholarship Fund, the Children’s Wish Foundation, the Colchester Food Bank, the Colchester-East Hants Hospice Society, the Truro Boys and Girls Club, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

In 14 seasons, the Bible Hill Kinsmen have now donated a total of $65,800!

2016 Great Trivia Challenge

The Bible Hill Kinsmen hosted our 3rd Annual Great Trivia Challenge at the Best Western Glengarry in Truro last night.  A total of 43 teams took part to help raise money for the Colchester East Hants Health Centre Foundation’s “We Care About Cancer” fund and other community groups supported by the Kinsmen.

Each of the ten rounds consisted of ten questions. At the end of the night,  Captain Crunch and the Cereal Killers were declared this year’s winners. The team was entered by the New Glasgow Kinsmen, showing the great support our clubs lend each other throughout the year. They had 95 correct answer, edging The Ice Hogs who had 94, and the Smartie Pints who had 92.

Thank you to everyone who took part and supported our event, either by entering a team, through donations to our silent auction and balloon pop, or other efforts. Your help makes this a very special night for all of us.

Photos of each of the Top 3 teams are below, taken with current Bible Hill Kinsmen President Drew Douglas (far left) and Trivia Night Chairman Geoff Hamlin (far right).

Captain Crunch & Cereal Killers (1st)Winners: Captain Crunch and the Cereal Killers

The Ice Hogs (2nd)2nd Place: The Ice Hogs

The Smartie Pints (3rd)3rd Place: The Smartie Pints