This year marks the 66th annual Niagara Grape and Wine Festival and the 44th annual Mayors’ Invitational Grape Stomp and St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik has challenged Niagara’s Mayors to support local charities and help “stomp out poverty” at the Grape Stomp.
Partnering with Niagara Grape and Wine Festival, Grape Growers of Ontario, JCI St. Catharines and Skycomp Solutions, Niagara’s Mayors will be working together to raise awareness about poverty and support local food banks by collecting non-perishable food items between Sept. 7 and 14. Members of the public are encouraged to donate in their community.
On Saturday, Sept. 16 at 12:00 p.m. during opening weekend of the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival at Montebello Park in downtown St. Catharines, the Mayors will take to the grape barrels for the traditional stomping of the grapes and compete to make the most grape juice. The volume of stomped grape juice plus the total volume of donations will determine the winner of this year’s Mayor’s Grape Stomp.
Niagara Mayors came together in 2016 to raise awareness about poverty and hunger here in Niagara. Many residents in Niagara live with hunger and malnourishment simply because they cannot afford to buy enough food. The participants collectively inspired the gathering of thousands of pounds of donations for their respective local charities. Councillor Bonnie Fokkens of Welland led the pack with 1819 lbs collected and host Mayor Walter Sendzik, once again, claimed the trophy for the fastest feet.
Get the latest updates from the Mayors by following @stomppoverty on Twitter and come out for the competition on Grape Stomp day. Grape stomping heats will include teams from the Grape Growers of Ontario, emergency services and more.
Help your Mayor stomp our poverty by dropping off donations for the Mayors’ Grape Stomp at:
Mayor Walter Sendzik, City of St. Catharines supporting Community Care St. Catharines
• Donations accepted at St. Catharines City Hall, 50 Church Street, St. Catharines
• Monday – Friday 8:30 p.m. -4:30 p.m. and
• Community Care St. Catharines – 12 North Street, St. Catharines
• Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Lord Mayor Pat Darte, Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake supporting Newark Neighbours
• Donations accepted at Niagara-on-the-Lake Town Hall, 1593 Four Mile Creek Rd., NOTL
• Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
Mayor April Jeffs, Town of Wainfleet supporting the Volunteer Firefighters’ Christmas Basket program
• Donations accepted at Wainfleet Town Hall, 31940 Highway #3, Wainfleet
• Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and
• Meridian Credit Union, 31885 Highway #3, Wainfleet
• Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m.
City Councillor Bonnie Fokkens, City of Welland supporting Open Arms Mission
• Donations accepted at the following locations:
• Monday- Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Welland City Hall, 60 East Main Street, Welland Wellness Centre, 145 Lincoln Street,
• King Street Fire Hall, 636 King Street and Open Arms Mission, 22 Fifth Street
Councillor Sergio Paone, City of Thorold supporting Community Care Thorold
• Donations accepted at Thorold City Hall, 3540 Schmon Parkway, Thorold
• Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and
• Community Care Thorold, 19 Albert Street West, Thorold
• Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
