Support for Alzheimer's rallies in RR

By Ken Johnston
Editor

It is just amazing how charity begets charity in Rainy River!
Efforts to raise awareness and funds for the Alzheimer Society of Rainy River and Kenora Districts have been ongoing for years and the late Linda Johnston played a key role in doing just that in Rainy River.
This coming Saturday will mark the sixth annual “Dinner to Remember” in Rainy River. Its key organizer the first four years was Linda Johnston and the fact that it sold out years three, four and five are a testiment to her efforts and how much the community cares about this cause.
Passing away in 2007, her family and friends whom she had recruited to help her put the dinner on decided to continue the tradition and last year the event was renamed The Linda Johnston Memorial Alzheimer Dinner to Remember. At that dinner Exec. Dir. of the Kenora-Rainy River Alz. Society Margaret Schonewille announced that a Memorial Scholarship was being created in Linda’s name at Rainy River High School.
Last June Danielle Abraham was awarded the first one. The money for the scholarship was donated by people in the community. That act of kindness begetted another. Last week Abraham’s mom, Michelle and her mother Donna Jewett came into the office and donated items for this year’s dinner and penny table.
Another interesting donation came from Joe Kaliska who worked with Linda on many projects at the local Legion. He recently won some valuable luggage in the Heart and Stroke Foundation lottery. He in turn donated lugga ge valued at $135 to be raffled at the Alz. Dinner this weekend. Again one charity begets another.
Another donation started in Vermillion Bay where former Rainy River resident Holly Hanson and her partner Wayne Holmes donated some wool to Rose Hanson and Sophie Arpin of Rainy River with the condition they could have it to knit if they donated the finished products to a charity. Last week they showed up at the Record Office with a bunch of knitted hats, scarves and head bands; again for the Alz. Dinner. Charity begets charity.
Many others including local businesses and individuals have donated many items for the penny table and artists have donated their time to make and paint chairs for the annual Chairs for Charity draw to be held at the dinner this Saturday.
Tickets for the dinner are more than 75% gone and will likely be sold out by the weekend. Anyone wanting one should stop by or call the Rainy River Record Office at 312 Third St. (852-3366).