By Miranda Miller
A group of local boys and their parents have organized a Lemonade & Cookie Sale emergency fundraiser this weekend. All proceeds are to benefit the Johnson family, who suffered a devastating house fire last week, through the United Way Bruce-Grey Fire Support fund.
Saturday July 19th from 8am-12pm at the Owen Sound Farmers Market and Sunday July 20th from 11am-3pm at Zehrs Market Owen Sound, the group will sell homemade chocolate-chip cookies and cold lemonade to raise funds for the family, who lost everything in a fatal house fire near Jackson July 9th.
Zehrs and the Farmers Market each offered the group the use of their space at no cost, while local businesses have pitched in to help cover the cost of supplies for the sale. Stone Tree Golf & Fitness, Freedom 55 Financial and Warrilow's Trucking each made monetary and/or product donations, while Have1.com supplied posters and signage to help the boys promote the event.
43-year old Christopher Andrew Johnson of Georgian Bluffs died of carbon monoxide poisoning secondary to smoke inhalation as a result of the blaze, according to the post-mortem examination. Four other people, including three children, were taken to hospital after fire crews responded to the fire. All have since been released.
The United Way of Bruce-Grey is accepting donations of cash and gift cards for the family to help address their immediate needs. The Fire Support fund assists individuals and families with both their immediate and long-term needs after the devastation of a house fire.
People are invited to attend the fundraising event and can make a donation anytime to benefit the Johnson family online at donatetoday.ca (see Fire Support button). Lemonade and Cookie Sale attendees will also be able to scan a code on their smartphone at the event to make an online donation and receive an emailed tax receipt.
Members of the Derby School community are also planning a fundraiser for the family, to be held in the fall. More information will be released as it is available.
Miranda Miller is an Owen Sound writer and journalist with an interest in public policy.
