The North Cariboo Backcountry Horsemen are hosting a horse ride to raise money and food for Voice for North Cariboo Seniors this weekend (Sunday, Nov. 18), as part of their fourth annual food drive.
The food drive itself started in September and will run until Christmas Eve.
Rob LaFrance, the chair of the North Cariboo chapter of the Horsemen, says before he moved to Quesnel, his previous chapter of the Horsemen did a similar charity drive, so he decided to see if there were any groups in need in the area.
“A lot of people think seniors have a good retirement program because of all the mills here, but that’s not always the case. Almost ever year, the Voice for North Cariboo Seniors is short on food,” says LaFrance.
“A lot of people don’t know that, they just assume everybody’s got a good pension – and they don’t.”
RELATED: Local Back Country Horsemen chapter sets out to rebuild the telegraph trail
He says last year the group managed to raise about 500 lbs of food.
To participate in the ride, riders (or anyone who simply wants to donate) must bring either non-perishable food items or cash to donate to the Bouchie Lake Recreation Centre at 1075 Centennial Road by 11 a.m. Sunday.
Horses ride out at 11 a.m., with the ride ending at Rocky’s at 1 p.m. with hot chocolate. Those who wish to donate but not ride also have the option to drop off their donations at the start or end of the ride at Rocky’s or the Bouchie Lake Recreation Centre.
Those wishing just to donate can also drop off items at the West Quesnel Barber Shop or the Bouchie Lake Country Store until Dec. 24.
heather.norman@quesnelobserver.com
Like us on Facebook