True to its name the Dundas “community” centre is the venue for a Feb. 13 fundraiser for the victims of January’s Village Bakery fire.

Residents, business people and local service organizations will come together as a community for From the Heart, a day-long fundraiser that starts at 8:30 a. m. with Rotary Club of Dundas members donning their aprons and picking up their spatulas to provide a delicious, hearty breakfast of pancakes, sausages, orange juice and coffee from Detour Coffee Roasters.

The excitement continues throughout the day with nary a lull in the action. Even before breakfast winds up, a swing band will brighten everyone’s day with a performance that begins at 9:30 a. m.

The Silver Swing Band, an amazing 20-piece group, will keep toes tapping from 11:30 a. m. to 1 p. m., followed by Waterdown 551 Fiddlers from 1:30-2 p. m. Participants will shuffle up and deal from 2:30-4:30 p. m. with euchre, bid euchre and bridge, complete with coffee, tea, goodies and great prizes. Admission is $5. Musical entertainment to suit everyone’s tastes, a miniature auction, dancing, special guests and a late-night lunch will continue throughout the day.

From the Heart was initiated by Phyllis Kraemer of the Keeping Room and Jamie Leder of the Collins Brewhouse two days after the Jan. 3 blaze gutted the popular Village Bakery and three upstairs apartments.

“We decided that because the Village Bakery was so much a part of our downtown that we needed to help it get up and running as quickly as possible,” said Kraemer.

“Susan Preston is a woman of incredible integrity and whatever this community can do to support her, and help her get this town's bakery up and running again is good. That is the great thing about living and working in a community such as ours. Whatever we do as a group that is good for the community is a great thing.”

Kraemer said within days of the event’s announcement, Steve Parton of Avalon Music Academy stepped forward to offer his services as the organizer of the musical entertainment for the entire day. And what a line-up it is.

Following cards, the sweet soulful sounds of the Meg Collins Jazz Trio will fill the auditorium from 4:30-5 p. m., followed by the Avalon Band Class at 5:30 p. m. It's Dance Time, cohosted by Bob Cowan of CH Morning Live, will follow, along with Klaude Walters at 6:30 p. m. and a Tribute to Elvis with Wayne Zess at 7:15 p. m.

At 8 p. m. Steve Parton & the Relics take to the stage with special appearances by local celebrities like John Ellison — the Dundas resident who penned the tune Some Kind of Wonderful.

Throughout the evening guests can up the ante on the excitement by participating in a raffle/auction with lots of wonderful and unique gifts, including a selection of items from Dundas Studio Tour artisans.

The evening will wrap up with a late night light lunch prepared by the Collins Brewhouse, with food donated from many suppliers of the Village Bakery and The Collins.

“I think this whole event is turning out to be a Dundas love-in,” said Kraemer. “...an event where everyone who ever ate a goodie at the bakery can come and have fun at.”

Tickets for the evening entertainment are $15 and are available at The Keeping Room, Collins Brewhouse or Booth's Furniture. Admission to hear the music throughout the day is free. Cost for the pancake breakfast is $20 for families, $3 for children and $7 for adults. Tickets for the card tournament are also available at The Keeping Room, or from Blanche Dingle at the Dundas Seniors Centre.