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Friends, family and community members descended on a small community centre in North Gower on Saturday night to show support for the Ruiter family as the farmers continue to put their lives back together following a horrific fire that devastated their livestock.

The benefit was put on jointly by the Ruiter family’s church, Saint Monica Parish, the Ottawa Carleton Milk Committee, the Ottawa Federation of Agriculture and the Junior Farmer’s Association of Ontario.

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While there was a large milk can sitting by the front entrance of the Alfred Taylor Centre where attendees could drop donations for the family, the event wasn’t about raising money. It was about showing support for the Ruiters, who many attendees said had given so much to so many over the years.

“They’ve given a lot and in their time of need, we want to repay them,” said Dwight Foster, an area farmer and one of the organizers of Saturday’s event. Foster said that he and Ruiter had known each other for decades and that Ruiter was always the first to welcome busloads of school children to his farm to teach city kids about rural lifestyles. He was also always first to lend a hand when a neighbour needed help.