WESTLOCK - What do the colour purple, pre-school toys, hockey, bassinets and rocking chairs have in common?
If you were at the weekly Monday night bingo at Memorial Hall Jan. 20, you could have seen it for yourself as the Westlock Elks made contributions totalling $9,000 to three more local organizations, in a long line of many before them.
The Elks, who dress in purple blazers, made donations to the Westlock Pre-school Society, the Westlock Bandits hockey team and the organizers of the Tree of Hope Christmas campaign, which raised money last month for accessories to make the maternity ward at the Westlock Healthcare Centre more comfortable for mothers and newborns.
This year’s annual Tree of Hope campaign at the healthcare centre over the Christmas season raised funds for new furniture specifically for the maternity and head nurse of the unit Joanne Good was there to accept the Elks’ contribution for $5,000.
“For this year’s Tree of Hope campaign, we raised money to buy new bassinets for the babies and new rockers for the moms,” she said, adding the program went very well this year.
The Tree of Hope campaign runs every Christmas season, with the healthcare centre raising funds for a different hospital-related project each year.
“We surpassed our goal, so we’re really, really happy. This final donation really pushed us over the edge, so we can make the nurseries a little more welcoming,” said Good.
“All the little things that we wanted to put in the moms’ rooms, we were able to get, so it increases safety having those babies in bassinets close to the moms. We’re super happy.”
Members of the Westlock Pre-school Society were also on hand for a donation of $2,000.
Jennifer Tober and Jennifer Woynorowski accepted the cheque from Thomson on behalf of the society, which will go towards continued operation of the program at Westlock Elementary School.
“It’ll go towards our daily operations at the preschool, classroom supplies, toys,” said Woynorowski, the society’s treasurer.
Society president Tober noted that enrolment is down this year with 21 registrations, while a good year would see between 40 and 60.
The pre-school has been in Westlock for 34 years, but others have opened in recent years and the program at Westlock Elementary is no longer the only option.
Note the pre-school only uses space at the school and is not a part of Pembina Hills School Division.
Thomson also presented Westlock Bandits players Stacey Michalczuk, Sean Starman and Laurissa Beattie with a $2,000 contribution.
“We have a small team, so fees are high,” said Beattie. “It’s greatly appreciated. It helps everybody with their league fees.”
“It helps give the ladies a chance to play hockey,” said Michalczuk.
The Bandits play in Div. 3 of Northern Alberta Female Hockey Association, which boasts 34 teams. The local team can usually be found at the Rotary Spirit Centre later in the evening on Sunday nights.
“I think we’re good role models to the community, to other girls that want to play hockey,” said Beattie.
