Terrace resident, Norm Read, is planning a different kind of 90th birthday party.
Read is having a birthday dinner and has asked guests to bring donations for the Terrace Churches Food Bank instead of birthday gifts. The dinner will be a roast held at 1 p.m. on Jan. 30 at the Terrace Inn.
“Basically we are using the event to raise food for the food bank,” Read said who has never done anything like this before.
“I consider myself a person who looks at problems and tries to solve them,” Read said. “One of the problems in this community is the amount of poverty and that is why we are raising food for the food bank.
“I see this as an opportunity,” Read said. “I have panhandled and gone hungry, so I know what it is like.”
Read was born in 1928, in Kipling Saskatchewan, and moved up to Terrace from the Vancouver area 12 years ago. In his lifetime he has had a variety of experiences from joining the circus, serving in the Second World War, working as an electrician and heading up housing co-op initiatives in Vancouver to assist low-income home buyers.
He said that in his life he has experienced poverty as well as wealth, and is always looking to help out the needy, as he was helped by others when he was in need.
Read hopes to collect a few hundred pounds of food, but said he will be happy with any results achieved.
The dinner is open to anyone who wishes to attend and Read encourages everyone to come.
The room is currently booked for 40 people but those wishing to join in on Read’s celebration are asked to RSVP to 250 635 3094 by Jan. 20, and bring some non-perishable items for the food bank.
“Everyone is welcome, please come and join me,” Read said.