Tolnai Goulash Dinner in Orillia

Submitted by Dave Dryden

For the past twelve years, Jem and Anne Tolnai have been holding an annual Goulash Dinner in their backyard in support of Sleeping Children Around the World. Through their efforts and those of their children, Todd and Taryn (a SCAW travelling volunteer to Kenya in 2006) and her recent husband Doug, they have provided bedkits to hundreds of children and raised the awareness of SCAW far beyond their home area of Orillia, Ontario.

Jim cooks the goulash and bakes the bread. Anne spends months baking the pies, cookies, and cakes that fill the first floor of their home on the day of the Goulash Dinner.

Thanks to the Tolnai family for their caring and tireless efforts. They're an inspiration to all. It's through efforts such as these that Sleeping Children has been able to help almost one million children.

This year marks the last year of their annual event, but Jim and Anne say to watch out next year for their fruit and vegetable stand. Their Goulash Dinners may have ended, but their support of Sleeping Children is going to continue.

More pictures to come.

Harley owners help Sleeping Children

Sleeping Children travelling volunteer, Harry Gauthier, reports:

I bought myself a motorcycle and I have been cruising the country on it. Well, at the beginning of the month I attended the 20^th Ontario HOG Rally (Harley Owners Group) in Chatham, Ontario.

On the 1^st of August there was a Poker Run and one of the card stops was at a barbecue put on by the Kiwanis Club of Ridgetown. On the banner at the back of the tent was marked “Serving The Children of the World.” Upon reading that I went and asked the gentleman serving hotdogs, hamburgers, etc. where the money was going and he told me to help in the local community and also to Sleeping Children Around the World.

I told him that I was a travelling volunteer and about the trips I had been on. He also told me how his wife gave music lessons and asked a donation for the jar which was to collect funds for SCAW. I was pleased to hear of the support for Sleeping Children Around the World.

I am including a couple pictures. The gentleman’s name is Gary Wake and he is with the Ridgetown Kiwanis Club.

Harry Gauthier

Sleeping warm, sleeping well

As published in The Calgary Herald
Saturday, August 9, 2008


CHARITY - We may know the name Dryden from hockey players Dave and Ken, but two other Drydens created a legacy in 1970 that's continuing to make life better for children worldwide.

Murray and Margaret Dryden (parents to Dave and Ken) founded Sleeping Children Around the World in the belief that the comfort of a bed is a basic right of every child -- and for them, that translated into bedkits for children living in developing countries.

Today, each $30 kit contains items such as treated mosquito nets, covered foam mattresses, sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, school supplies and sandals, ensuring a good night's sleep no matter where the child is.

More than $20 million has been raised and 947,850 bedkits have been given out. For information about donating or volunteering, go to scaw.org.

© The Calgary Herald 2008