Innisfail's Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary has donated more than $5,500 to help challenged military families.
The money, raised at last year's Valentine's Gala Evening and from the annual Mother's Day Brunch, was given to the Military Family Resource Centre Edmonton Garrison (MFRC) on Feb. 15 during the legion's 14th Annual Valentine's Gala Evening. The MFRC is a non-profit agency that fosters individual, family and community well-being for military families.
This year's Valentine's Gala Evening attracted 82 people, who each purchased a $30 ticket for the annual fundraiser. The gala raised $2,200.
Over the years the community has been increasingly supportive of the event, as well as the annual Mother's Day Brunch. In 2011, organizers sent $4,055.64 to the MFRC, while in 2012 another $5,646.06 was raised and in 2013 the Edmonton-based agency received $6,492.47.
However, it is expected there will be a new target next year for the Ladies Auxiliary's annual fundraising. With additional monies raised during this year's Mother's Day Brunch, the Ladies Auxiliary has plans to direct funds to Edmonton's Valour Place, the new $10-million facility designed to be a temporary home away from home for all Canadian Forces members, families of the fallen, veterans and RCMP along with their families who require medical treatment in Alberta's capital city.
ìI still believe the MFRC has been a very worthy cause, but I definitely want to look towards Valour Place in the future and I believe that is what we will look towards next year,î said Penny Seabrook, gala chairperson.
But Seabrook said this year's donation to the MFRC was particularly important because the organization has initiated iSTEP, a new resiliency program designed for children between the ages of six and 17 who have a parent in the Canadian Armed Forces affected by an operational stress injury (OSI). The 10-week program is considered an effective intervention program that utilizes peer support to help decrease isolation, and normalize feelings that go along with life changes as a result of their parent's injury.
ìThat is brand new. They (MFRC) are expanding with its horizons to meet with the challenges that are happening now,î said Seabrook. ìThat is good because post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been around forever. It was just that it was never identified or acknowledged. It was sort of like what cancer used to be. Nobody talked about it.î
Meanwhile, Seabrook said she was pleased with the turnout and support for the Feb. 15 gala, which faced competition from other events held in the town on the weekend.
She said the event did ìvery wellî with corporate sponsors, receiving $1,150 and 66 donated gifts to give away at the gala.
ìThe community spirit has been wonderful. For the $30 price of the ticket they are getting a dinner, a dance, the possibility of getting a gift that's of equal value to their ticket or better, and the opportunity to put some tickets in a raffle and maybe win something else. That is good value,î said Seabrook. ìWe had a New Year's Eve event here and the tickets were $20 and they got a cold punch.î
