CALEB NICKERSON
SHAWVILLE July 30, 2020
On Thursday afternoon, the parking lot of the Shawville United Church was filled with the smell of grilled meat and french fries as parishioners and local residents alike gathered for a spaced out barbeque.
Organizer Robert Murray said that . . .
since their church services are still being held via Zoom video conference the event served as both a way to generate money for the church while also bringing people together in as normal of circumstances as possible.
“This is an opportunity for the United Church community in Shawville to get back together after being quarantined and isolated for some time,” he said. “It’s a fundraiser for the church but primarily it’s an outreach to say, ‘We’re still here, we’re still open.’”
He said that they had taken strict precautions with the food preparation and the handling of customers to ensure they followed public health recommendations. All cooks were wearing masks and all surfaces were wiped down with sanitizer at regular intervals. Most of the attendees opted for takeout, but those that decided to picnic on the church’s lawn did so at a distance.
“[We checked] with the provincial authorities to make sure we knew more or less how we would manage handling food,” he said.
In total, the event raised $1,930.
