durhamregion.com The Citizen August 23, 2013 13 Brooklin residents come together for a good cause The Whitby Ajax Community Garden Project is a community garden providing more than 7,000 pounds of fresh produce to food banks and agencies throughout Durham. Located on Lakeridge Road just south of Winchester Road, the garden is a hidden gem in the community, offering sanctuary from urban life. This peaceful country setting provides a place for all people to come together to grow organic vegetables, herbs, fruit, flowers and offers a place to form new friendships with like-minded individuals. This garden donates fresh vegetables to various local food centres and community organizations such as Salvation Army Whitby, Salvation Army Ajax, St. Vincent's Kitchen, St. Paul's on-the-Hill, The Refuge, the Muslim Welfare Home, Cornerstone Community Association and more. Earlier this year, the garden's access road was significantly damaged by heavy rain making vehicular access impossible. Many individuals will be greatly affected if this project cannot continue next year. The rebuilding of the new road is imperative for the project to continue supplying these much needed resources to the community. On Wednesday, Aug. 28, the community will come together to raise funds for the project. The first Brooklin celebrity bartending event will be held at the Royal Ashburn Golf Club from 5 to 7 p.m. North Ward Councillor Tracy Hanson, Whitby Sunrise Rotary Club president Deborah Murray and drummer Matt Brann (previously for Avril Lavigne) will be the celebrities on hand to serve beverages. Funds will be raised from draws, a silent auction and all the tips will be donated by the celebrities. Live music will be performed by local singer and songwriter Alex Hanson. All the proceeds will go to the building of a new access bridge to the garden. For more information regarding the project, visit www.plantingthefuture.ca. Cecilia Waldron is the creator of C and C Connections, a networking group that connects all business owners in Brooklin CeCilia Waldron Community BROOKLIN -- Savithu Wijesuriya crawled through a tunnel during a TD Summer Reading Club meeting at the Brooklin branch of the Whitby Public Library on Aug. 14. Kids have been reading books and enjoying activities through the summer. Ryan PfeiffeR / MetRoland Brooklin woman shines spotlight on hunger Movie night brings community together to support local food bank PaRvaneh Pessian ppessian@durhamregion.com BROOKLIN -- When Cheryl Gordon thinks of a community coming together, she remembers the excitement of going to the drive-in as a child. The Brooklin resident and local real estate agent is hoping to re-create that memory for local families during her annual outdoor movie night on Sept. 6. "I wanted it to be small and quaint to get to know the people in my neighbourhood so I thought you know what, I'll have it on my street," says Ms. Gordon, on how she came up with the idea for the event after moving to Brooklin four years ago. "There are tons of kids in the neighbourhood and it was a great excuse for everybody to get together, to get away from the TV and computer games and kind of go old school." As a sales representative with Keller Williams Energy Real Estate Brokerage in Whitby, Ms. Gordon was looking for a way to show her appreciation to her clients, as well as her family and friends. But what started as a modest neighbourhood gathering with about 200 to 300 people attending in the first year has transformed into a major community event. "Last year we had about 600 people and this year, we're hoping to have about 800 to 1,000." says Ms. Gordon, adding that residents often ask her when the next movie night will be taking place. This year's film, Monsters University, will be shown on a big screen and the event will include snacks, games, prizes and a live band. To continue in the spirit of giving to the community, Ms. Gordon is asking all those who attend to take a non-perishable food donation as their admission. All the items will be donated to St. Paul's on-the-Hill Community Food Bank in Pickering. As a former social worker, Ms. Gordon says she has seen first-hand the need that exists within the community and wants to be part of the solution. "Over Christmas and around Thanksgiving, they do get a little bit more attention but through the summer months, that's when their shelves are usually pretty bare so we're doing what we can to help out." Much-needed items include tea, instant coffee, sugar, flour, cookies, crackers, juice boxes, children's snacks, dry soup, breakfast cereal (dry and hot), canned fruit, pasta sauce, stew, chili and canned pasta, tuna, and salmon. Residents are encouraged to take lawn chairs and blankets to the fourth annual Outdoor Movie Night for Hunger, taking place on Friday, Sept. 6 at 6:30 p.m. on Wycombe Street in Brooklin. VISIT: www.outdoormovienightforhunger.ca Reporter Parvaneh Pessian covers the town of Whitby for Metroland Media Group's Durham Region Division BROOKLIN -- Local real estate agent Cheryl Gordon is hosting her fourth annual Outdoor Movie Night for Hunger on eptember 6 at 6:30 p.m. on Wycombe Street in Brooklin. subMitted Photo On the go at the library