a Community of Christ Church serves up a free breakfast every month, regardless of religion GARY WEST Tae Times Correspondent July 12, 2024 Stratford Times For the last year and a half, Community of Christ Church on Forman Avenue in Stratford has been offering a free community breakfast for all who come. Organizers of the church say it has been a great success feeding approximately 100 people on the last Sunday of every month. Any donations received are given to a different local charity each month. This past month’s donation went to Harmony, a non-profit organization that provides advocacy, education and resources for 2S;LGBTQ+ members of the church. According to church pastor Nancy Brookshaw, the pur- pose of Harmony is to affirm the dignity and worth of all people without regard to gender, race, sexual orientation or religious affiliation. There now have been 15 breakfasts served since Feb- tuary, 2023, with thousands of dollars donated to various charities in Stratford and Perth County. Brookshaw said there is nd church service on those Sundays. The free breakfast is a big change for some of the con- gregation but when asked the question, “What would Jesus do,” they knew the answer was of course to feed people and build community. The community breakfast will take July and August off and it will be back in September. They are always looking for volunteers for cleanup, so \ if anyone interested in helping or learning more can email Ni rk il.com. (GARY WEST PHOTO) THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DONATED Sei a free breakfast the end of June at Community Of Christ Church on Forman Avenue are, from left, Mark Custers, Van Straaten, Sally Van Straaten, Robert Smith, Dan Veldman, Scott Brookshaw, Julia Brookshaw, Kelly Tarr and pastor Nancy Brookshaw. Brookshaw at | Perth County’s Neeb family brings antique John | Deere tractors to Stratford Canada Day Parade GARY WEST Times Correspondent Stratford’s Canada Day parade is one that draws thousands of area spectators on July 1 every year. They, along with hundreds of participants who play in bands and bring out floats de- picting their businesses or organizations, ride horses and drape themselves with flags and Canada Day themes. The Neeb family’s classic tractor entry has been participating in Stratford's Canada Day Parade for over 10 years now. While watching the parade, spectators al- ways seem to enjoy looking at the old tractors as they pass by. There are nameplates on all of the tractors to say what year they were made, as many peo- ple are interested in seeing how old the green and yellow John Deere tractors really are. E z iat eae ees Four members of the Neeb family with their John Deere tractors partic’ — their 10th year in a row. Pictured from left are Matt Neeb, Carson Legere (in seat), Terry Legere and Ron Neeb. ‘ipated in this year’s Canada Day Parade in Stratford This year, the family had six tractors en- tered with manufactured dates from 1934- 7. This is also the first year that Ron Neeb’s grandson, Carson, was able to drive a tractor in the parade, making it three generations in full participation. wont (CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS) Guy Moore driving one of Ron Neeb’s John Deere A tractors along the river in this year’s Canada Day Parade in Stratford. This was one of six tractors the Neeb family entered for the parade this July 1 to make it 10 years in a row for the family to participate.