The Kinsmen Club of Lloydminster showcased its community impact this week, donating $12,250 to 19 local organizations during a special presentation aimed at highlighting the group’s commitment to giving back.
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Kinsmen life member Darcy Wildeman said the club decided to make the event more visible this year so residents could see how fundraising efforts benefit the community.
“We’ve always given money away. This is the first year we decided to make it kind of splashy to let the community know we do give back,” said Wildeman. “Lots of times we solicit the community for donations and don’t always have the opportunity for the community to see us giving back.”
Wildeman noted almost all recipient groups were present for the presentation, with only Lakeland College unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict.
The Lloydminster Kinsmen club, chartered in February 1926, is among the oldest in Canada and is approaching its 100th anniversary.
“We’re almost 100 years old and we look forward to our 100th anniversary in Lloydminster and we have celebration plans well underway already,” he said.
Wildeman said the club’s work is guided by Kin Canada’s motto of “serving the community’s greatest need.”
Despite having just 17 members, he said the group organizes numerous fundraising events throughout the year to support local causes. Major initiatives include Christmas tree sales, a hockey draft, bartending events, the Harvest Hoedown cabaret and the annual Telemiracle Steak Night.
“This year, we were very fortunate to fundraise and send them $161,000 from our community,” said Wildeman, referring to Telemiracle. “It amazes me, and I guarantee you that money comes back to our community.”
He added many local residents have benefited from Telemiracle funding for equipment and travel, including scooters and wheelchairs.
For the club’s members, distributing funds to so many organizations is rewarding.
“From a club that has 17 members, it feels pretty dang awesome,” said Wildeman. “We work hard at everything we do … When we have the opportunity to give this much money back to the community, it’s a pretty great feeling and warms your heart knowing all the hard work we do in the community is going back to the community.”
The giving event donated to Holy Rosary High School athletics, the Lloydminster Youth Centre, the Lloydminster Legion, Citizens on Patrol, Lloydminster Public School Division (LPSD) athletics, Border Town HOG toy run, Lloydminster Catholic School Division (LCSD) Kinsmen scholarship, the Lori Craven Memorial baseball tournament, the LPSD breakfast program, Here Comes Santa Claus Day, the LCSD breakfast program, the Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Senior Care Society, LPSD Kinsmen scholarship, Midwest Community Cupboard, The Goat’s Christmas Wish, Lloydminster Region Health Foundation and Lakeland College.
Several recipient organizations said the support helps them continue important work.
Melanie Mutter, board chair with the LPSD, said the funding helps provide opportunities for students that fall outside normal budgets.
“These donations allow us to do some of those extras that we just don’t have within our budget because we focus on academics, so this really helps our students in so many ways,” she said.
The donation will also support community events and charitable initiatives, including the Border Town HOG Toy Run.
“Our upcoming Toy Run will be the 15th annual Border Town HOG Toy Run and it’s going to be a big year,” said co-chair Murray Getty. “We’re getting really close to raising $1 million for local kids’ charities in our community.”
Other recipients included programs supporting students, food security and families in need, such as a breakfast program run by the Lloydminster Catholic School Division, the Midwest Community Cupboard in Lashburn and the Goat’s Christmas Wish campaign.
Evan Degenhardt of 106.1 The Goat said the Christmas Wish initiative has raised more than $1.1 million over nearly 25 years and helped more than 200 families.
“It’s cool to see all of these groups giving back to each other,” he said. “We couldn’t do it without everybody in this room.”
Kagan Kneen, CEO of the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation, also thanked the Kinsmen for their continued partnership.
“It’s because of groups like everybody in this room that we can do what we do and really try to enhance the health care in our region,” he said.
Wildeman said all of the money donated comes from local fundraising initiatives and partnerships with community events.
He added the club is always looking for new members interested in helping continue its nearly century-long tradition of community service.
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