CARSTAIRS - Wonderful surprise! The 65th annual Carstairs & District Community Chest charity drive resulted in $69,706 for 2017. This is $3,300 more than previous records.
In February the board tentatively set a goal of $66,000, hoping to reach it.
With the economic downturn, this level of support was unexpected but will be welcomed by recipient charities. The volunteer board was not only pleased, but encouraged by the amazing generosity of all the donors in rural areas and town residents. This encourages volunteers to carry on.
The 70 volunteer canvassers worked diligently to cover town and rural areas. Being a canvasser is not for everyone, but the faithful ones enjoy chatting with their regular donors from their own street or area.
Some recipient charities provided canvassers but additional canvassers will be needed for 2018.
Community chest relies on people being ready to donate in April. The most difficult part of canvassing is finding people home after three calls. Some residents choose not to come to their door. Thankfully, other residents wait for the canvasser to arrive.
Problematic is that many people no longer use cheques or carry cash; canvassers carrying debit or credit machines is virtually impossible with so many canvassers.
Funds are disbursed to 13 charities, with 11 being local and mainly volunteer driven. There are funds left over for local fire disasters for immediate cash aid, which is a bylaw of community chest.
The five campaign managers all worked hard to organize canvassers. President Katie Harder managed the east rural area and Secretary Vicky Penner did the west rural area.
In town, Don James organized southwest town, while canvasser kits were processed by Billie Jeges for north town and Renny Walker for southeast town.
Other volunteer board members are Carol Molnar as treasurer, Mary Hughes, Marilyn Kary and Pat Van Tetering. Don Speers just became a new director.
Additional directors and canvassers are welcome and sought. The next board meeting will be the annual meeting at town hall, Feb. 6, 2018, where the selection of charities is determined. Would you like to participate? Come to the board meeting!
For those interested in numbers, here is the breakdown of donations: north town $8,427, southwest town $14,670, southeast town $6,134, town businesses $5,710, east rural $14,435, west rural $20,330.
In town Gough Road divides north and south, and 10th Ave divides southwest and southeast areas. A few very generous donors of $1,000 or more enabled breaking the record.
The local charities receiving the 2017 donations are Hugh Sutherland School breakfast program, Chinook Arch Victim's Services Society, Habitat for Humanity Mountain View, Horizon School, Mountain View Emergency Shelter, Mountain View Food Bank, Mount View Special Riding Association, Carstairs CRASH Youth Centre, Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre, Rosebud Health Foundation, and new this year, Carstairs Elementary School Toast program (partial funding needed).
The larger charities to be funded are the Salvation Army and STARS. These two are kept because of fiscal responsibility and emergency response.
Community chest welcomes year-round donations. An August music fest west of town will bring in more funds. Many residents as well as the recipient charities express appreciation for the work of the Carstairs & District Community Chest.
