Seventh annual Alzheimer Dinner set for Jan. 22nd in Rainy River

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Mark your calendars for January 22nd as it is time for the Alzheimer’s annual fund raising meal in Rainy River.
“A Dinner to Remember” has been extremely popular the past several years with tickets completely selling out the last four years.
This is the fourth year the fund-raiser is being called The Linda Johnston Memorial Alzheimer Dinner to Remember. Linda passed away three summers ago after a battle with cancer. She was instrumental in organizing the previous Dinner’s To Remember and other Alzheimer Fund-raising events in Rainy River. This is the seventh annual dinner.
Again this year, as in years past, her family and friends have been busy organizing the event and will be working it.
Linda’s husband, Chef “Uncle” Bob Johnston, has promised that his “secret” roast beef recipe that has earned the event a reputation of excellence the past six years, will again please everyone’s taste buds.
In addition to the roast beef dinner and all the trimmings, there will be a penny table which also sold out the last three years. Volunteer and long time event supporter Marlene McNally is busy getting all the donated items together for it. Anyone wishing to add an item can drop it off at the Rainy River Record office at 312 3rd St. during normal business hours.
Tickets for the dinner are $13 each and there are only 100 advanced tickets left and 20 reserved for shut ins (to go orders). Tickets are already selling fast, so if you are planning to attend get yours today! They are available from Marlene McNally or at the Record Office.To order a “To Go” meal call the Record at 852-3366 and put your name on the list. Long time volunteers Tom and Bonne Irvine will be delivering them that evening.
The dinner is being held in the Rainy River Legion Hall. The doors will open around 4:30 p.m. for the Penny Table. Anyone can participate in the penny table. Dinner will be served at 5 p.m. and all raffle draws will be made after supper. Last year, the event raised nearly $2,500!
In a further effort to show appreciation for Linda’s work, the Kenora-Rainy River Alzheimer Society created a bursary, for students entering the medical field to work with Alzheimer Patients, in her honour two years ago. All money donated towards the bursary goes towards it and the donations are tax deductible.
There is a new twist at this year’s event. In the past, a chairs for charity draw was held with local artists painting beautiful themes on chairs. They were then raffled off to raise money for the cause. However, in the past few years the chairs were ready so close to event the committee found it a struggle to sell a great deal of tickets. This year they have decided that the Chairs for Charity will now be part of a silent auction at the dinner!
The Kenora-Rainy River Alzheimer Society Executive Director Lynn Moffatt is also planning to be in attendance for the first time! She will also be selling hot chocolate cones as a fund-raiser at the dinner.
Last week Mayor Deb Ewald accepted the Alzheimer Society’s flag to fly inside the town office for the rest of the month of January. Town council proclaimed January Alzheimer Awareness Month.
Everything is on track for another great dinner in Rainy River, so if you are wanting to support this great cause, get your dinner tickets now!