S.O.A.R. Food Drive still drawing support

By Mark Squibb

The twelfth annual Spirit of Alex and Riley (S.O.A.R.) Memorial Food Drive was yet another success.
Bernie and Lousie Mercer collected hundreds of bags of food donations and just over $3,600 in cash and cheques in memory of their children Alex and Riley, both of whom passed after courageous battles with cancer.
The food drive is held at the CBS Salvation Army church on May 9 — the shared birthday of both Mercer children— each year.
Lousie said that while food donations were down a little from previous years, the event still went over very well, and she extended her thanks to the many schools, fire departments, businesses, and individuals who donated.
“It’s amazing that we still have continued support, considering how many years have passed since both Alex and Riley’s passing,” said Louise. “People’s loyalty and support has been what has kept us going… It means everything to us to keep the memory of Alex and Riley alive and everyone certainly helped us do that this year.”
Among the many who came out to drop off a donation and have a chat over birthday cake and coffee were Tamar Kelly and Brian Ridgley, and Denise Sparkes and Paul MacDonald
“All of us, as parents, would say they’ve taken an unimaginable tragedy… and turned into something enormously good for the community,” said Kelly, whose daughter was a classmate of Alex. Kelly herself, prior to her retirement from the school district, helped with the annual toy drives and food drives. She said she’s glad that schools in CBS and Paradise still participate in the food drive to this day, even though children in school today would not have met Riley or Alex.
The four have been friends of the Mercers for years and have many fond memories of both children. They have attended events held in the children’s memory as best they could over the years.
“Christmas doesn’t begin until the Riley Mercer Toy Drive,” said Sparkes, who added they make it a point to attend the events as a show of support for their friends.
“They’ve brought CBS closer together,” said Ridgley of the Mercer couple, a statement that many, no doubt, would agree with.
The four also praised the Salvation Army for not just hosting the events every year, but for standing by the Mercer family.
“The Salvation Army has always done a lot for the community,” said MacDonald. “And they’ve always been there for Bernie and Lousie.”
The Mercers, meanwhile, will continue to host community events in memory of Alex and Riley, the next being the sixth annual washers’ tournament, which will be held on August 9 at the Irish Loop Resort. All proceeds from that event will be donated to the Dr. Jack Hand Legacy Foundation, which is dedicated to helping families while their children are being treated at the Janeway for haematology or oncology-related illnesses.