Prince George, B.C. – Hundreds of people have already committed to a fundraiser that’s being organized by Culinary Arts students at CNC for Lakeland Mills employees and their families.

The fundraiser is set for May 15^th in the CNC courtyard and word of the benefit event has gone viral on Facebook since students came up with the idea last Wednesday. More than 8-thousand contacts on Facebook have been invited so far and approximately one thousand people are committed to turning out to show their support for those affected by the devastating explosion and fire at the mill last Monday night.

Andrea Johnson with Communication Services at the college says response to the fundraising barbecue and silent auction has been phenomenal throughout the community. She says there are roughly 250 employees at Lakeland who are now out of work and the CNC students though this would be the best way they could think of to help those people.    The fundraiser runs from 11 am to 2pm on May 15^th. It costs you $10 to get in and that includes either a hot dog or hamburger, salads, drinks and desert. ALL of the money raised will go to the Lakeland employees.

Many businesses have already been in touch with the organizers to help out with the food purchases and other items and Johnson says businesses wanting to donate items to the silent auction can call chef Ron Christian at 250-562-2131, extension 5268 to find out what to do.

Andrea says they’re hoping for a nice day but have enough space to accommodate everyone no matter what the weather is like. And she says there will be enough food to feed everyone who turns out to offer their support.