After a year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Welland’s Economic Development department teed off with industry leaders, developers, investors, and business owners at its annual golf tournament.

As a result, the Hope Centre, Salvation Army, and Open Arms Mission were selected as this year’s charity recipients.

This year, the tournament was held in September instead of its usual summer date, allowing for vaccination rates to increase and the installation of eased restrictions. The results of the 22nd annual tournament benefited from the wait.

“A day of fun and camaraderie resulted in a benefit to our community,” said Mayor Frank Campion. “The support, not just in dollars and cents, but in time and commitment from our community stretches beyond what we raised this year. Thank you to everyone who participated and continues to give back to our community.”

Over $11,000 was raised this year, and over the last 22 years, more than $100,000 has been donated to local charities. These charities have included Jump Start, United Way of South Niagara, Rose City Kids, ALS Canada, and many more.

“We selected our local food banks as this year’s recipients as we recognized how beneficial they are for those in need in our community,” said Lina DeChellis, Manager of Economic Development. “We’ve seen how impacted and strained their resources and services have been during the pandemic, and this year, it was an obvious fit.”

The Economic Development team worked with local grocery stores (Food Basics, Fresh Co., No Frills) to purchase the most needed items for each organization. These included canned fruits and vegetables, canned meat, personal care items, crackers, pasta, and peanut butter and jam.