The holiday season is winding down for another year, and thanks to the Battlefords and area, 382 local families had a better season than they might have without the help of the Empty Stocking Fund. Bill Hall, executive director, tells us 1,243 people were helped over Christmas 2013, about the same as last year. Of those, 638 children under 16 were part of the families who received hampers, an 11 per cent increase over last year. Food raising efforts resulted in more food donated this year than in years past. The fundraising efforts raised around $100,000, which was the goal for 2013, and there are still more donations coming in. Hall says it's about a 10 per cent decrease from last year, but that has been offset by fundraising throughout the rest of the year having gone up. Also, says Hall, PotashCorp will again be matching what was raised during the Christmas season (up to $1 million provincially by all food banks).
On to 2014. It may be cold, but that doesn't keep Saskatchewan down. There are things to do and places to be despite the deep freeze, although the powers that be would have us believe it will warm up later this week.
Top on the list of things to do for blood donors is Wednesday, Jan. 8. Book your appointment by calling 1-888-2DONATE (1-888-236-6283). A clinic will run 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Don Ross Centre, sponsored by the North Battleford Lions Club.
That evening, Jan. 8, at 7 p.m., head out to the Battleford Arena for a special hockey game. The Battleford Central School Me to We Club is presenting a game between the Battlefords AA Pee Wee Barons and BCS staff and friends. School staff will welcome special guests: Rod Leniuk, Greg Schmidt, Rocky Omelchenko, Martin Smith, Brett Payne, Derek Mahon, Jim Shevchuk, Ashley Gauthier, Kevin Russell, Girls' AAA Sharks and RCMP members. It promises to be a thoroughly entertaining game. Admission is $5 per person or $10 per family. All proceeds will be donated to Canadian Tire Jumpstart.
It's a big weekend coming up for the Battlefords North Stars. Saturday, Jan. 11 is the club's 40th Anniversary Alumni Celebration. There will be a catered meal for alumni members and a social following the Battlefords North Stars game against the Yorkton Terriers in the Prism Cable Hot Stove Lounge at the Civic Centre. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Any alumni members who aren't already involved are encouraged to call the North Stars office at 306-445-7827 or email [email protected]. The following weekend, Friday, Jan. 17, players will be auctioned off in the Prism Cable Hot Stove Lounge during the two intermissions in the game against the Notre Dame Hounds and they will compete in the shootout following the game. The purchaser of the winning player will receive half the profit.
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