From the left, front row: HOL Board Chair Gayle Hewton, HOL Past Chair Rilla Seward-McShane, North Grenville Councillor Deb Wilson, Cathy Ashby, ND Mayor Tony Fraser, ND Councillor Gary Annable, HOL’s Operations Manager Kim Merkley and SDG MP Eric Duncan. Back row: HOL board member Erin Zollinger, Janet Carkner. Thompson Goddard Photo
MOUNTAIN – There was a good turnout of people at the House of Lazarus (HOL) Open House held on Oct. 17. Located at 10456 Ronson Road in Mountain, the recently completed building houses a furniture store, food bank, food bank warehouse and the organization’s main offices.
“It’s been quite a journey” commented HOL Executive Director Cathy Ashby. She explained that there is currently a fundraising program underway with a goal of raising $400,000 which will be used to put the finishing touches to the new building.
Ashby explained the organization has served the communities of Dundas County, Grenville County and South Stormont for 40 years. Currently HOL has two locations in Mountain, one in Ingleside as well as community hubs in Kemptville and Morrisburg.
People attending the Open House were able to tour the facility. The different areas in the building include space for the Food Bank, Second Harvest Rescue Program, Operation Backpack, Community Food Program, CRA Income Tax preparation assistance, a second-hand furniture store as well as an area for Healing Pathways. Located in these areas were information boards to view as well as the opportunity to speak with knowledgeable staff and volunteers about the services offered by HOL.
At approximately 3 p.m. there was a ribbon cutting ceremony and official opening during which Ashby thanked the staff, volunteers and the contractors involved in the construction of the facility. North Dundas Mayor Tony Fraser expressed his thanks for the work accomplished by HOL, noting the community is fortunate to have such an organization. SDG MP Eric Duncan offered his congratulations to the organization, mentioning with the constant increase in need, which is difficult to see, it is fortunate to have HOL to assist people. Lion Wayne Vachon from the Kemptville Lions Club presented a cheque to HOL for $1,790.
More information on the House of Lazarus can be found on their social media pages and website located at https://hol.community.
Carolyn Thompson Goddard, grew up in Chesterville and attended North Dundas District High School. After completing her BA in Political Science at Carleton University she has worked as a medical secretary and library technician. In 2020 she graduated from Algonquin College with a diploma in Journalism and has been a reporter and column writer for The Chesterville Record for over 10 years.
