The Lutheran-United Church of Thompson was the place to be March 6, also known as Shrove Tuesday. The congregation held their annual pancake supper, which marks the beginning of Lent, or the period leading up to Easter. This annual event is usually casual and open to all, with a silver collection being taken to cover costs. This year was different as it was a fundraiser. Following the unexpected passing of retired Thompson teacher Barb McIntyre last summer, a big void was felt in the congregation. A cause that was very dear to Barb was a program in Chile run by the Evangelical Lutheran Church called Educacion Popular en Salud (Popular Education in Health) or EPES.
Her interest in the program came about in a very unusual turn of events. Barb regularly visited her mother, Margaret, who was in a home for seniors in St. Paul, Minnesota. One day Margaret and fellow resident, Sophie Anderson, were in an elevator together when Sophie’s necklace broke and pieces scattered. Sophie exclaimed that now she would have to go to Thompson, Manitoba to get a replacement. Margaret asked her who she knew in Thompson and Sophie said her niece, Doreen Lindquist lived there and her necklace was from there. Margaret said that her daughter Barb lived there as well and a close friendship formed between Margaret and Sophie.
Sophie’s daughter Karen Anderson founded the EPES in 1982 in Chile during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. The program promotes health and dignity for the poor through education, community mobilization and collective action. The main focus of EPES is to educate women who can in turn educate their communities regarding matters of health. Barb became very interested in this program through conversations with Sophie and, when back in Thompson, Barb and Doreen discussed plans for a fundraiser to support the cause.
Unfortunately, Barb did not live to see their plan to fruition so Doreen asked if the church could do something in Barb’s memory. The resulting plan was that all proceeds from the pancake supper would go to supporting EPES and $1,000 was raised as a memorial donation for this worthy cause. The congregation of Lutheran-United Church would like to thank all who came out to support the supper, as well as those who donated food or dropped off donations. Barb would be touched and pleased that so many cared enough to attend or donate!
