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This volunteer ensures those in need enjoy a tasty treat too

"I can tolerate a lot of things, but I cannot tolerate people being hungry."
darlene brackenreed
Darlene Brackenreed puts her baking skills to use providing tasty treats to The Gathering Place.

This is one in a series of articles as part of the "Helpers" series focusing on the people and organizations that help make our community a better place.

This week, we learn more about volunteer Darlene Brackenreed.

There are many businesses, restaurants, and grocery stores that are very generous in how much they give to The Gathering place in North Bay, so those in need can enjoy a healthy, free meal at the Cassells Street location.

But there are also many individuals who find a way to give with their own unique talents as well. Darlene Brackenreed is one of those people.

Brackenreed enjoys baking, and on a regular basis will prepare a variety of tasty treats that are served at The Gathering Place, giving visitors a bit of a home-made dessert with their meal that day.

"I can tolerate a lot of things, but I cannot tolerate people being hungry," she says.

Having the skills, a passion for baking, and a desire to help others has resulted in her regularly whipping up a box of up to 100 individual treats in a single delivery.

"I make a lot of things and it's usually different each time. I like making brownies, cookies, cinnamon buns, cakes, and (sweet dessert style) loaves," she adds.

Since the gathering place serves hundreds of meals a day, there's always a need for more help from the home front from people like Brackenreed. In fact, she's just one of a group that regularly bakes to make things better. 

In May, the Gathering place provided almost 5,000 meals in the community. If you are a baker interested in providing something to the centre, their drop off times are:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Weekends from 2 to 5 p.m.