Joyce Beauchamp
Special to the Tribune
“Charlie’s Angels” was a popular detective show in the late 1970’s. Although the audience never saw Charlie, in each episode he assigned three young women a crime to solve. They solved it and reported back to him at the end of the show. Well, “Padre’s Angels” is similar, but instead of solving crimes, the “angels” solve funding crises, and Padre is a live person working with them toward this goal.
“Padre” is Jasen Bélanger. His angels are Isabella Bélanger, Amanda Brooks, Valerie Buckle-Larivière, Rose Beausoleil and Jeanne Labonté. Together, they fundraise for causes that need an influx of funds to continue their work.
The West Nipissing Food Bank is one such cause. Valerie Buckle-Larivière, vice-chair of the Food Bank, says the demand for food is higher than it has ever been. Jasen Bélanger says, “Even locals with jobs sometimes need help making ends meet after paying rent and operating a vehicle. Add these new customers to those who are unable to work, and you have many local residents needing help with basic food supplies.”
On Monday, February 16, Padre and his Angels presented the Food Bank with a cheque for $500. They raised about $250 by hosting a roast beef dinner at the Cache Bay 50 Club on February 8th. The club generously paid for the food, while the Daughters of Isabella donated cooking pots and other kitchen equipment. They expected 30 to 40 people, paying $10 each for the meal, but they got 60 – a packed house! “The people who came for dinner were all smiles,” says Bélanger. “They really enjoyed the fact that Louise St. George sang for them, adding a lot of value to their ticket. We had a wonderful evening. Diane Baronette and Gail Lennon-Hebert of the Cache Bay United 50 (Seniors) Club say they added an extra $250 to their cheque because “this cause is so important to this community.”
