This year’s dinner was once again held at the Moose Lodge. This is the sixth year that the Lodge has sponsored the event.

The evening featured entertainment, gift draws, and carol sing-a-longs. This year, Carol Bradford, who is a volunteer with Ross Memorial, played the piano during dinner and our very own staff member Anne Pallett and her daughter Terry will provided a musical presentation with guitar and Christmas songs.

We received generous donations from many organizations, local businesses and community professionals including: the Moose Lodge, the Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation, Brittany and Brothers, Shoppers Drug Mart of Lindsay, Joanne’s Health Foods, Stewart Morrison Insurance, The Masters Touch, Video King, and Binney & Smith. All of them have made this Christmas dinner possible.

Molly McCrea, Director of the Ross Memorial Hospital Community Counselling Services, is touched by the continued kindness and generosity of this community. “We are so appreciative of the support and contributions given by this community to people with mental illness,” explains McCrea. “We are especially grateful to our sponsors and volunteers for their continued support. Special recognition also needs to be given to the staff of the Clinical Case-Management Team who dedicate many hours towards making this a memorable evening.”

The response from clients and their families has been overwhelming in past years, and everyone is excited about celebrating the season again with family and friends. Approximately 150 people attend the dinner each year.