LOWER ONSLOW - Visitors to the RiverBreeze Farm cornmaze this weekend will have a chance to do something different, while supporting a good cause.
The cornmaze, owned by Jim Lorraine and his wife, Tricia, is hosting a day to benefit Feed Nova Scotia.
"My wife's been involved in the school breakfast program and she sees people there that come to school hungry," said Lorraine about why he wanted to support the organization that helps food banks, shelters, soup kitchens and other programs across the province.
"She's been doing this for several years now - every second Friday. She is able to have that connection and see that some kids come to school that don't want to eat in the morning. We wanted to help out in some way."
On Sunday, a portion of the admission costs to the maze will go toward the organization.
Along with the maze, RiverBreeze will have a local business owner offering pony rides, and there will also be tethered hot air balloon rides, weather permitting.
"Typically, the pony rides are $5 a ride, but we decided to offer unlimited rides for $4, with half going to Feed Nova Scotia and the other half going to the pony business owner. Scotiabank will be on site and they are matching the money from the pony rides, so for every ride, $4 will go to Feed Nova Scotia."
Seth Bailey, operations manager at Feed Nova Scotia, runs East Coast Balloon Adventures and will be offering a portion of balloon ride sales to Feed Nova Scotia. Balloon rides are $10 and half will go to the organization.
"We usually team up with an organization every year, and this year is Feed Nova Scotia," said Lorraine. "I'm hoping we'll get some good support for them."
Dianne Swinemar, executive director of Feed Nova Scotia, said she was excited when Lorraine contacted her about the partnership.
"I've seen a cornmaze before but have never done a walk through. I'm a little chicken to go in there in case I get lost," said Swinemar while standing outside the maze.
She said she'd been in touch with Lorraine a few times over the summer, but it wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that she came to look around and meet him.
"When I met him in person, I thought, ‘here's a really creative guy with a big heart,'" she said.
Feed Nova Scotia supports more than 150 organizations in the province, including two in Truro, with a food bank in Tatamagouche soon to come on board.
"Food banks are the biggest part of our program. When it comes to shelters, soup kitchens and drop-ins, we offer something different - we offer catered food. We deliver once a week to food banks with non-perishable food items and fresh foods, like produce."
Swinemar is hoping to attend Sunday's event, which runs from 12 to 5 p.m., with her grandchildren.
"I hope to actually go through the maze," she said.
Swinemar said every dollar received from the RiverBreeze event means the organization can distribute $14 worth of donated food amongst member food banks.
Aside from this Sunday's event, visitors to the maze on Sundays during the month of October will also support the organization with $1 from every Sunday cornmaze admission going to Feed Nova Scotia.
For more information, visit www.riverbreeze.info/cornmaze.htm.
rtetanish@trurodaily.com
