Community volunteers make a difference

As efforts move forward on reaching full funding for locum housing in the Rainy River area many volunteers have found innovative ways to help realize Rainy River House. Here are a couple of them.
Len Ricci and Jack Elliott are like many Rainy River residents enthusiastic gardeners. This year their joint patch featured a great crop of sweet corn. Rather than let it go to waste of fatten up too many varmints they picked the surplus and offered it for sale to other area residents. Those with a hunger for this seasonal treat cleaned up the offerings in short order and this pair of garden wizards managed to raise a modest $125.00 for Rainy River House.
“It may not be a lot, but it’s more than we would ever receive from the varmints- both four and two legged,” joked Elliott.
The Evangelical Covenant Church of Rainy River steadfast supporters of many worthy causes have put their volunteer shoulders to the wheel on several fronts in support of Rainy River House. Always amongst the first to step forward, they recently operated the canteen at the Beller’s auction sale. That involved a lot of organization and repeated trips to town for more supplies as swarms of bargain hunters swamped the busy burger flippers and coffee pourers. Their one day effort managed to raise nearly $1000.00 for Rainy River House.
These are two examples of the way community members are helping raise the funds that pay for Rainy River House, a vital investment in our community’s future.
Overall area residents have raised $116,328.13 as of October 14 according to an updated list from the Rainy River Municipal Office. Along with the $100,000.00 committed by Big Grassy First Nation, Dawson Township, Lake of the Woods Township, and the Town of Rainy River our total to date of $216, 328.13 puts us near a third of the way to our final goal. The Rainy River Town Office is producing on an ongoing basis, posters listing new donors. This will be posted around the community.
If you have a way you would like to help with funding for the Rainy River locum House please contact the Rainy River Healthcare Committee through the Rainy River Municipal Office.