An Okotoks-based non-profit stepped up to help out other charities and organizations in the Foothills last week.
The Sheep River Health Trust handed out more than $52,000 on May 18 to eight groups and projects supporting health and wellness programs helping families and individuals across the Foothills.
Tanya Thorn, fund development officer, said the 15-hour annual event is a way for the health trust to reinvest back into the community.
“The envelope we support is health and wellness initiatives, so all of those organizations are doing things either through preventative health care or providing health care needs to our various community partners,” she said.
The funds were raised in a radiothon hosted by the health trust and the Eagle 100.9. This year’s recipients are: It Takes a Village, $3,000; The Rowan House Emergency Shelter, $3.730; KidSport Okotoks, $2,500; Foothills SNAPS, $3,000; Turner Valley Parent Teacher Association, $3,500, Integrated Home Care, $3,000 and $34,000 to Alberta Health Services for projects at the Oilfields Hospital and Okotoks Urgent Care Centre.
The health trust is known for its work raising funds to support projects and upgrades at the Okotoks Health and Wellness Centre and the Oilfields Hospital.
Thorn said supporting other organizations in the area of health and wellness is an important part of the trust’s mandate.
She said the event raised $3,000 more than last year.
“We’re still climbing, so that’s good,” said Thorn. “For a down year we were really happy with the event in that regard.”
She said recipients apply to receive funds from the radiothon. Those chosen must to received funding must fall under the organization’s mandate and if they are self-sufficient.
“That’s one of the key components look at, is we want them to be sustainable programs, whether we write the cheque or not so they are still here five years from now,” said Thorn.
The funding will help cover a variety of needs for recipients, from capital projects to programing.
Cindy McCoy, site manager for the Okotoks Wellness Centre and Urgent Care, said the $34,000 will be split up to support capital projects at the Oilfields Hospital and the Okotoks Urgent Care.
In Okotoks, it will help fund the creation of private treatment rooms in urgent care. In Black Diamond, the funds will be put towards renovations of the tub room at the Oilfields Hospital.
McCoy said they haven’t determined a price tag for either project yet, or how much will go to each project from the health trust funding.
“We’ll be working on that process,” she said.
Ally Cramm, Rowan House community Relations coordinator, said the funds will help covering training costs for the shelter’s Leading Change Program for Boys and Men to prevent domestic abuse.
“It’s a tremendous help,” she said. “All of our prevention program must be covered by fundraising and donations as it receives no government funding and when we have organizations like the Sheep River Health Trust step up to support us it makes a world of difference.”
