Olive Garden General Manager Cory Wilson, left, and Darell Avellar, 6, play chess while Cory visited and was presented a chess club Tee Shirt for Olive Gardens continuing support of the chess Club. Cory got a little help with his game for Coach John Gordon who is next to him
By Marc Larocque
The Boys & Girls Club announced that it is hosting a dinner for all the displaced residents on Saturday. The meal is being provided by the Olive Garden, which is a big sponsor for the youth organization, said John Gordon, coach of the chess team at the Boys & Girls Club in Taunton.
Gordon said that the Boys & Girls Club Chess Team took the initiative and decided that they wanted to do something to help the victims of the fire. Gordon said that a boy at the Boys & Girls Club was among the families displaced by the fire.
“The chess team decided to reach out to those families,” Gordon said. “The kids wanted to do something. It was a befitting gesture to hold a dinner for them. We went to our sponsors, the Olive Garden, and they agreed to help us give back to the community.”
Gordon said the plan is for the meal to take place at 5 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club at 31 Court St.
He thanked Taunton Olive Garden general manager Cory Wilson along with the rest of the workers at the restaurant.
Gordon said he was working on Friday to connect with the victims of the fire through the city’s Human Services Department.
Gordon said he is proud of the chess team for their desire to help out in a small way.
“I think it’s awesome that these kids have the heart and the compassion for the victims,” Gordon said. “They look out for each other they knows it’s a community that supports the chess team. I just think it’s great.”
The Bubblette at 89 Winthrop St. in Taunton is also stepping up to the plate, offering victims vouchers to wash and dry clothes for free as they receive clothes donations.
“We heard about the fire and wanted to help out somehow,” said Phil Johnson, a co-owner of the Bubblette. “It is my understanding that they lost everything. It’s an unfortunate situation. Hopefully the community can reach out and suport them and get them back on their feet. This is just a small way to be able to reach out and help out the community.”
Johnson, along with fellow co-owners Steve Turner and Leo Trainor, said they were contacting the St. Vincent de Paul in Taunton to connect with the displaced residents.
Source: http://www.tauntongazette.com
Bravo!