Battlefords Residential Services Inc. received a much-needed donation May 28, as Zonie Krawchuk and the local Elks club donated $15,000 to purchase a wheelchair accessible van.
BRSI currently has a total of 12 people who require a wheelchair accessible van and its current van is over 11 years old and unreliable. When a resident needs to travel outside the community, it leaves the rest of the wheelchair-bound residents without transportation.
When Zonie Krawchuk, treasurer of the local Elks Club, heard of the predicament, he offered to raise money for the purchase of the vehicle. The Elks themselves raised a total of $10,000, Krawchuk contributed $5,000 personally in memory of his late wife Joyce Krawchuk, and the BRSI contributed the remaining $20,000 from savings and previous fundraisers.
BSRI used the funds to purchase a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan customized to transport two people in wheelchairs at one time.
Roger Piatt, vice-chair of BRSI, thanked the Elks for their generous donation.
"It is the generosity of community-minded people like Zonie and the Elks membership that make our community great."
BRSI is currently in the midst of service expansion, fundraising to build two new homes for an additional 12 clients. April 30, the organization began its campaign to raise $100,000 to purchase items to furnish the houses. It is expected that the homes will be ready for a Sept. 1 move-in date. BRSI currently provides care and support for 44 individuals in five homes, and employs 70 staff.
