Three local organizations received close to $6,000 from the Elks last month.
At an appreciation barbecue June 27 at Memorial Hall, the Westlock Elks invited Canadian Parents for French, Healthy Families Healthy Futures and the Westlock Childcare Society to attend to receive donations.
Canadian Parents for French treasurer Jennifer Woynorowski was present to receive $1,750 from Elks exalted ruler Hugh Thomson.
The money will go towards the purchase of new books for students. Of the total, $750 will be donated to Westlock Elementary School.
“The teachers have already submitted their order for 100 French books that are going into the classrooms,” said Woynorowski.
“It’ll be appropriate for Kindergarten to Grade 6.”
The remaining $1,000 will be matched by the Friends of the Library Society and will go towards adding a stocked French bookshelf at the Westlock Municipal Library, but for a wider reading group, including literature for young adults.
“CPF is submitting a list of suggested titles and authors, but the library will be ordering the books,” said Woynorowski.
Healthy Futures Healthy Families got $2,000 in support of their Thrive mentorship and outreach program, run by Darcy LaBonte.
“(We) work with individuals and families who are experiencing relationship abuse, elder abuse, or family violence,” says executive director Brandy Berry.
The mentors meet one-on-one with those who are in need of assistance “to evaluate personal safety, create safety plans, provide emotional support,” and assist in goal-setting according to the HFHF annual report.
Thrive services are available fin Westlock, Athabasca, and Barrhead. Seventy-five individuals took advantage of the program in the last year.
Erin Kalisch and Kaila Betts of the Westlock Childcare Society were also present to receive $2,000 for the daycare’s new outdoor learning environment.
“The very front of the playground is almost done. We’ve been trying to raise money to do all three of our playgrounds,” says Kalisch.
The change is intended to introduce more natural elements into outdoor areas, like wood instead of plastic, more trees and planters, stumps for kids to walk around.
The areas are also open to the public.
The Elks say groups in the area continue submitting applications, so they continue raising money to support their community.
The main source of funds for the service club is its weekly bingo hosted every Monday at Memorial Hall.
This year the group has raised a little over $60,000.
Just before handing out this round of donations, the Elks held a meeting to approve three more donations to local applicants.
