What do birthdays, workouts, and Growing Chefs have in common? This year, our superstar volunteer, Barb Mackenzie, combined her passion for all three at her annual birthday workout. We’ve asked Barb to tell us all about it!
Barb stretches at her Annual Birthday Workout & Fundraiser.
How did you become involved with the Growing Chefs community?
I think I must have been doing a Google search to see about cool, inspiring programs in the community, by the community and came across Growing Chefs. I was so surprised and happy to learn it was a local program, teaching kids such great skills and knowledge. I thought the classroom program was absolutely amazing and wanted to learn how I could get involved.
Tell us more about your birthday workouts?
In lieu of birthday gifts I wanted to spread the love to the community and thought, what better way than to collect monetary donations and work with Growing Chefs to bring this program into a local Elementary School. So once a year, family and friends will get together to sweat it out! I host a different workout annually, and it's a great way for all of us to make time to come together, try something new, get out of our comfort zones and have fun together.
What inspires you to give back to your community?
It's something that just feels great, and fills my soul. Friends and family also love having the opportunity to get involved, and are always down to support as long as there's somebody coordinating the effort, lol. And now having three kids, I love getting them involved, and teaching them about thinking of others before themselves.
Do you have any advice for people that want to host a unique event or fundraiser?
Find something you love doing, or something you've always wanted to try and rally all your friends and family. Reach out to the place you want to do something with, and they'll coordinate the details with you. The "fun" part is picking a date and time that works for most schedules, but if you have enough lead time, I find most people can make it happen. Humans love a reason to come together, and what better way then something fun, out of our comfort zone, community building and something we get to do together.
Creative Community Impact Stories feature members of our community that are raising funds and awareness for Growing Chefs by doing what they love. If you have an idea for a fundraiser or a friend-raiser, reach out, we would love to hear from you.
Contact:
Afton Bell
afton@growingchefs.ca