By Tina Brajic
The Haldimand Press
CALEDONIA—The Argyle Street Grill has probably never been as ‘hairy’ as it was on Friday, November 10, 2023. The local restaurant was the place where “The Grill Crew” was on hand to accept a tremendously touching and hair-raising donation of $6,200 from Carolyn Humenik at the ‘Threshold to a Brighter Tomorrow’ foundation.
‘The Grill Crew’ is a team of staff members from the Argyle Street Grill, who formed a team for the first time this past week to grow moustaches and raise money for Movember. The team consists of Team Captain Kevin Brown, Co-Captain Griffin Birks, and members Adam Samson, Riley Palmateer, and Will Fitzpatrick. Fellow co-worker Sara Buehner is the art consultant who created the promotional table talkers for the restaurant.
According to the Movember website, the movement started in 2003 in Australia and is now a global crusade to create awareness of men’s health issues. It’s been “20 years of changing the face of men’s health.… It has since funded over 1,320 men’s health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up men’s health research, and transforming the way health services reach and support men. We’ve taken on three of the biggest health issues affecting men: mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. As a result, men are living healthier, longer lives.… This movement started with 30 Mo Bros. Now, it claims a headcount of over 6 million. And we’re not done yet.”
Brown, a part-time employee at Argyle Street Grill and owner of TechKey.ca Computer Support Services, states that his client, local lawyer Larry S. Humenik, reached out about a donation to his Movember team through ‘Threshold to a Better Tomorrow.’
The Humenik family, and close friends Cameron and Carly Atrooshi, Ryan Edwards, and Stacey Lomanto, started the foundation in 2013 in memory of their son and friend, Jared Blake Humenik, who was 26 years old when he died by suicide on July 2, 2012.
Jared’s mom, Carolyn Humenik, stated that Jared “had suffered from mental health and addiction issues, with alcohol being his ‘beast of burden.’ Jared was a terrific young man with huge potential…. Threshold’s funds are specifically directed to mental health and addiction.”
Jared lived in York and had his thriving business in Caledonia. To date, the foundation has donated over $35,000 to local organizations involved with mental health and addiction supports. Jared would have celebrated his 38th birthday on November 7. The Humenik family and friends can be proud that donations from the foundation are helping to make men’s mental and physical health a priority and giving hope to others.
For Team Captain Brown, “It’s about awareness and of course to raise money to support treatments and research. We all know someone affected and being men ourselves this cause brings awareness of the health issues which can affect all of us.”
For support on suicide prevention, men’s cancer, men’s health, or to get involved, visit movember.com. Search for The Grill Crew to donate to their fundraiser.
To make a donation to the ‘Threshold for a Better Tomorrow,’ email threshold1985@gmail.com.
