Cilantro and Chive has announced this month’s burger of the month collaboration will be with Colin Hodgson. Hodgson grew-up in Lacombe and developed his athletic skills that led him to become a professional curler at the local curling rink.
The burger of the month is an initiative created by restaurant owners Rieley and Kim Kay that began in 2017 and aims to raise awareness for a different charity every month.
To date, the fundraiser has raised $65,000 for 37 different causes across Central Alberta.
This month Hodgson chose to support KidSport, a charity near and dear to his heart since he is a KidSport ambassador for Manitoba, where he now lives.
“I don’t think there’s any experience I’ve ever had that’s more rewarding than working with youth,” said Hodgson.
KidSport is an organization that provides funding and grants to children who might not be able to afford to get involved in sports otherwise.
In the talks about organizing donations for KidSport it was discovered Lacombe doesn’t currently have a chapter.
“I think having a KidSport chapter in Lacombe would be fantastic,” said Hodgson. “I really hope that some people from the community step up and share their wealth of knowledge.”
KidSport Alberta’s Development and Communications Manager Nick Davies has said they would need five to 10 community representatives who are passionate about sport to get a chapter up and running in the city.
“There will be a role for each one of those people and for a chapter just starting out it wouldn’t be a huge time commitment,” said Davies.
The closest chapter is currently in Red Deer but an expansion in Lacombe would allow more kids to become involved in local minor sports.
In 2019, KidsSport helped 55 kids from the Lacombe area get involved in sporting activities and has already provided close to $5,470 to help 19 kids as of October, 2020. The hope is the burger of the month will raise enough money and awareness for a chapter to eventually come together, according to Davies.
Hodgson, who has a culinary background, has said the Cilantro and Chive team went above and beyond in making his burger for the promotion come to life. The burger includes Saskatoon berry jam, peanut butter and pepper bacon all on a bison patty and sandwiched in between toasted brioche buns.
“They took my idea and elevated it to a different level, and they are the perfect type of people to do that,” said Hodgson “I’m really happy to have a partnership with them.”
The burger promotion will run until the end of the month with $2 of every sale going towards creating a Lacombe KidSport. People who are interested in volunteering to get the new chapter up and running can contact Davies at ndavies@kidsport.ab.ca.