Investment brokerage Edward Jones Parksville is working to feed the community twice-over with a series of free barbecues this summer.
The company has planned three free events, with one barbecue having already taken place in June at Nicholls Park, where the company also collected donations of money and food for the Parksville Food Bank.
So far, a pile of food and $90 has been raised after 24 families attended, said Tom Kinred with Edward Jones Parksville, but added that he hopes to reach $1,500 in addition to even more food collected with help from individuals as well as from other businesses.
The next free barbecue is taking place Saturday, July 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Foster Park (at the corner of Sanderson Road and Pym Street).
Kinred said he’ll be spending a good chunk of this week (starting July 23) leaving door hangers at hundreds of homes in the Foster Park area letting them know about the event.
Kinred said the company is planning its third free barbecue for Aug. 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Lowrys Road and Yellowbrick Road. For that barbecue, attendees as asked to park at the Oceanside Elementary School overflow parking at Wembley and Lowrys roads.
This is the first time Edward Jones Parksville is organizing these kind of events, and Kinred said that, if they barbecues are successful enough, he hopes to make them an annual fundraiser.
Send story tips: adam.kveton@pqbnews.com