We’ve been neighbours for more than half a decade in Lacombe and “mighty neighbourly” sums up Central Alberta Youth Unlimited perfectly.  We were thrilled to work with Executive Director Jerel Peters in November on a Burger of the Month!

Jerel has served with Youth Unlimited since 2003 and he’s passionate about working with kids!  We were thrilled to dance around some ideas with Jerel as he helped create “It Takes Two to Mango”, an Alberta beef smash patty, spiced pork patty, queso fresco, Monterey jack quesadilla strips, mango salsa, iceberg lettuce, beefsteak tomato, and shaved onion on a garlic butter toasted brioche bun with a dried mango.  $2 from every Lacombe BOTM sold went directly to Jerel’s cause of choice, Central Alberta Youth Unlimited.

Jerel notes families and youth are facing some big feelings these days “uncertainty, fear, and anxiety, but at Youth Unlimited we offer a message of hope into every young person’s story”.  Burger of the Month Proceeds will go directly towards the cost of Youth Unlimited counselling sessions for youth and young moms. Their counselling program provides counselling sessions for youth with trained therapists, offering emotional, mental, psychological, and relational support to youth at a time when they so desperately need it.

The vision of Central Alberta Youth Unlimited is hope and wholeness for all youth. Staff are in 7 local communities serving in the core areas of: Innovative Centres, Critical Care (Youth Housing; Counselling; and support for pregnant and parenting young women), Community Outreach, Trips Camps and Events, Leadership Development, and Marketplace Initiatives.

Thanks to your support of our beloved Burger of the Month Program Jerel helped us deliver $786 to Central Alberta Youth Unlimited.  Thanks to the amazing support we see from our guests for our Burger of the Month program month after month, we have had the opportunity to give back over $95,000 to local charities over the past 58 months!  THANK-YOU!

The December Burger of the Month in Lacombe is “Holy Moly”, created in collaboration with local guest chef Edna Mcleod!  It includes grilled marinated chicken breast, guajillo mole sauce, grilled pineapple, iceberg lettuce, onion, and beefsteak tomato, on a garlic butter toasted brioche bun with a cherry tomato!  $2 from every burger sold will go directly to the Lacombe Food Bank.

For more information contact:

Jerel Peters

Executive Director

Central Alberta Youth Unlimited

403.348.7205

jerelp@cayu.ca

Kim Kay

Community Relations

Cilantro and Chive

403.597.2127

kim@cilantroandchive.ca

The timing couldn’t be better to salute our local hospital and all the caring and compassionate staff that have continued to show up in incredible ways throughout the pandemic.  Our October Guest Chef in Lacombe is just as passionate about community as she is for her job in the ER.

ER Nurse at the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre Taryn McCrank served as our Guest Chef, helping to create the “Supercrunch”.  It included crispy tempura fried chicken, grilled pepper bacon, spicy pepperoncini jam, fresh beefsteak tomato, cilantro, green onion, mixed greens, mary rose sauce on garlic butter toasted brioche bun. Finished with a pepperoncini bamboo pick.  $2 from every “Supercrunch” burger is going directly towards Taryn’s charity of choice – the Lacombe Health Trust.

Taryn is proud of the close-knit feel of our community, and althouh her job is often tough, she loves her career and the opportunities it has afforded her to meet, get to know, and care for community members.  In terms of Taryn’s selection of the Lacombe Health Trust to be on the receiving end of funds she pointed to wanting to further support the community “to directly influence and improve the healthcare that is provided to members of our community, directly benefiting our neighbours, friends and family”.

The volunteer Board of Trustees of the Lacombe Health Trust are tasked to mobilize resources and fund projects, equipment and education for health care workers and clients at the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre. Projects are typically driven by the hospital needs, with the hospital approaching the Board with requests.  Currently the Health Trust is working with the Lacombe Hospital and Alberta Health Services to update and improve the intake area of the hospital.  The BOTM proceeds will help with that work.

Thanks to your support of our beloved Burger of the Month Program Taryn helped us deliver $1350 to the Lacombe Health Trust today (Wednesday, November 3rd).  Thanks to the amazing support we see from our guests for our Burger of the Month program month after month, we have had the opportunity to give back over $90,000 to local charities over the past 57 months!  THANK-YOU!

The November Burger of the Month in Lacombe is “Takes two to Mango”, created in collaboration with local guest chef Jerel Peters!  It includes an Alberta beef smash patty, spiced pork patty, queso fresco, Monterey jack quesadilla strips, mango salsa, iceberg lettuce, beefsteak tomato, and shaved onion on a garlic butter toasted brioche bun with a dried mango.  $2 from every Lacombe BOTM sold goes directly to Jerel’s cause of choice, Central Alberta Youth Unlimited.

For more information contact:

Sherri O’Muir

Communications Co-ordinator

Lacombe Health Trust

403.318.4095

sherri@lacombehealthtrust.com

Taryn McCrank

Lacombe Hospital & Care Centre

taryn.jason@gmail.com

Kim Kay

Community Relations

Cilantro and Chive

403.597.2127

kim@cilantroandchive.ca

Lacombe ER Nuse Taryn Hancock served as October Guest Chef at our Lacombe location, co-creating the “Supercrunch”.  It included crispy tempura fried chicken, grilled pepper bacon, spicy pepperoncini jam, fresh beefsteak tomato, cilantro, green onion, mixed greens, mary rose sauce on garlic butter toasted brioche bun. Finished with a pepperoncini bamboo pick.  $2 from every “Supercrunch” burger is going directly towards Taryn’s charity of choice – the Lacombe Health Trust.

“Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them”.  A local Vice Principal who believes in the potential of ALL kids deserves an A+ for his September Burger of the Month at our Lacombe location!

Craig Fullarton, the Vice Principal at Ecole James S. McCormick School in Lacombe, served us our Guest Chef.  He helped create “The Vice”, an Alberta smash patty, boneless short rib, jalapeno jack cheese, queso cheese sauce, deep fried Cheeto breaded jalapenos, shaved onion, mixed peppers, beefsteak tomatoes, mixed greens, on a Cheeto dusted brioche bun!  $2 from every burger sold is going directly towards Craig’s charity of choice – Aspire Special Needs Resource Centre.

Craig says children are our greatest and most valuable resource, “every child is a special, unique individual that deserves the chance to be successful”.  As a local educator he’s had the opportunity to see firsthand the service Aspire provides “the level of energy, passion, optimism, hope and compassion they demonstrate in their work is evident.  There is nothing quite like the smile of a child as they learn and realize they have achieved success and Aspire’s commitment to making this happen for all children is incredible”.

Aspire Special Needs Resource Centre is a charitable organization providing hope to children with special needs, the families who love them and the communities that care for them.  The Centre works with families, schools, educators, and community agencies to deliver quality education that meets kids’ specific needs, allowing them to reach their full potential.  BOTM funds will be directed to Aspire’s Fee Assistance Program which ensures families access to their services regardless of their income.  Those services allow families to work with a team of professionals like a Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, and Speech and Language Pathologist to create individualized learning plans specific to each child.

Thanks to your support of our beloved Burger of the Month Program Craig helped us deliver $1334 to Aspire Special Needs Resource Centre today (Wednesday, October 13th).  Thanks to the amazing support we see from our guests for our Burger of the Month program month after month, we have had the opportunity to give back over $90,000 to local charities over the past 56 months!  THANK-YOU!

The October Burger of the Month in Lacombe is the “Supercrunch”, created in collaboration with local guest chef Taryn Hancock!  It includes crispy tempura fried chicken, grilled pepper bacon, spicy pepperoncini jam, fresh beefsteak tomato, cilantro, green onion, mixed greens, mary rose sauce on garlic butter toasted brioche bun. Finished with a pepperoncini bamboo pick.  $2 from every “Supercrunch” burger will go directly towards Taryn’s charity of choice – the Lacombe Health Trust

For more information contact:

JoAnne Hayden

Aspire Special Needs Resource Centre

403.340.2606

Jhayden@aspirespecialneeds.ca

Craig Fullarton

JS McCormick School

403.782.3096

craig.fullarton@wolfcreek.ab.ca

Kim Kay

Community Relations

Cilantro and Chive

403.597.2127

kim@cilantroandchive.ca