Farm Credit Canada (FCC) annually awards funds to rural community groups for community improvement projects.
The Blaine Lake Senior Citizens' Centre was the recipient of $5,000 to be used towards the renovation of its facility.
Marj Pool, Blaine Lake Senior Citizens' Centre president ,was pleased to accept the funding from Deanna Klusa, representative of FCC North Battleford.
"We are so grateful to receive this funding and we like to thank FCC and Pam Lavoie," commented Pool explaining Lavoie was instrumental in ensuring the application was successfully completed.
Pool also mentioned the success of the project and current use of the facility, such as the coffee/social mornings are based on the many volunteers. Some individuals take a project and follow through to ensure it is successfully completed. The entire renovation project has become everyone's project. Residents of all ages have pitched in to assist from filling out grant applications and providing assistance with computer technology to managing the morning coffee/social hours. It is encouraging to see how a community can come together to work collaboratively on one project.
Another example of project teamwork is an upcoming soup and sandwich Jan. 13 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Proceeds will be used to purchase window coverings for the centre.
The FCC AgriSpirit Fund is about making life better for people in rural communities and the funds awarded are channelled towards community improvement projects.
"We're happy to have played a role in improving rural communities in Canada with the FCC AgriSpirit Fund," commented Klusa," and FCC is proud to be able to give back to the community of Blaine Lake."
If an organization is raising money for a capital project, it may qualify for a donation between $5,000 and $25,000 to supplement the project's other fundraising efforts. Other successful projects funded in the past have included hospitals and medical centres, childcare facilities, fire and rescue equipment, playgrounds, food banks, libraries, recreation centres and community gardens.
Other capital projects in local communities benefiting in 2011 from the FCC AgriSpirit Fund included the City of North Battleford with $15,000 to construct a sport, culture and recreation complex and the RM of Spiritwood No. 496, with $12,600 to purchase a fire truck.
