Collection for Project SHARE at old Epworth Circle school
Four businesses open in former NFCVI. Ready to celebrate the grand opening of four new businesses in the former Niagara Falls Collegiate Vocational Institute are, from left: Scott Reid, Niagara Falls Judo and BJJ Centre; Ron Gallen, Niagara Falls Boxing Club; Jeff Guarisci, resource development and communications co-ordinator for Project SHARE; Mike Kaine, warehouse administrator for Project SHARE; Capt. Mike Puddicombe, Salvation Army of Niagara Falls; Wendy Leard, Wendy Leard School of Dance; Scott Paul, Driving Force Strength and Conditioning and Colleen Gallen, Niagara Falls Boxing Club. RICHARD HUTTON/STAFF PHOTO
Four businesses located in the former Niagara Falls Collegiate Vocational Institute all have one goal this weekend — to help families in need over the holiday season.
“We just moved into the building,” said Wendy Leard, the principal behind the Wendy Leard School of Dance, which has opened its doors in the former school building at 4700 Epworth Circle along with a trio of other businesses, all with an athletic slant.
Also taking up residence in the building, which is also home to the Niagara Centre for the Arts, are Niagara Falls Judo and BJJ Centre, The Niagara Falls Boxing Club and Driving Force Strength and Conditioning.
To celebrate the grand opening of the respective businesses, all four will be accepting donations of non-perishable food for Project SHARE and the Salvation Army’s Adopt-a-Family program at a joint open house to be held Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m..
“We just wanted to open it up so people can see what we’re all about,” Leard said.
And doing their bit for charity was also something that was a good fit, Leard said.
“We’ve (students at her dance studio) always adopted a couple of families,” Leard said.
Colleen Gallen from the Niagara Falls Boxing Club said her group has always supported Project SHARE.
“We’ve always had a barrel to collect donations,” Gallen said.
Mike Kaine, warehouse administrator for Project SHARE said the agency can always use the help.
“We appreciate it all,” Kaine said, adding that demand at Christmas time means a greater need for donations. He said that as many as 140 families will turn to the agency for help over the holidays.
And that’s not just with food. Project SHARE also provides assistance paying utility bills, legals assistance and other support.
“And that’s something a lot of people don’t realize,” Gallen said.
For the Salvation Army’s Capt. Mike Puddicombe, any assistance the group receives is welcome.
“We don’t have any other source of funding other than the (Christmas) kettle campaign, which just got underway,” Puddicome said.
The move to the new digs also presents unique opportunity for the businesses, Leard said.
“One can come in to check out the dance studio another judo,” Leard said. “It’s nice to combine everything in one location.”
And that is something Gallen agreed with.
“Since we’ve had the opportunity to move in here, we’ve had a lot of walk-ins,” she said.
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