A substantial donation made recently to the Northwest Community Lodge Association (NCLA) has given the organization a major boost toward completing its fundraising goal. Recently, the NCLA was gifted $15,000 from former area resident Donna Aldous and her family. According to NCLA chair Alannah Carter, the donation will go a long way toward helping the organization cover the costs associated with furniture, fixtures and equipment at the long-term care facility.

“We received the donation March 10,” Carter said. “It’s definitely a significant donation. We were quite surprised, and certainly both happy and thankful to the Aldous family. We’re going to work with them to come up with some sort of recognition in the building. We have a few spaces left that can be used to recognize larger donations.” Carter went on to reiterate how satisfying it was to receive the Aldous family’s donation considering larger donations to the NCLA have become few and far between compared to when the organization initially began its fundraising efforts. While furniture, fixtures and equipment are currently in place at the facility thanks to the support of the provincial government, the NCLA is still required to cover those costs and reimburse the province for its contributions. “Our overall goal is $2.3 million and we still have a commitment to pay back the Saskatchewan Health Authority for the equipment purchased for the building,” Carter said. “As we continue to raise funds, that money will be used to reimburse the SHA. To date, we have raised $1.935 million and have $365,000 left to go.” Once the goal is reached, fundraising efforts will continue to allow for the purchase of future equipment and other items as the need arises.

“Our foundation also does a lot to support the recreation department for the residents, and we will continue to fundraise for that once we’ve reached our full goal,” Carter noted. “We’d also like to continue to raise funds to eventually purchase a handivan specifically for the lodge. They are quite costly, but that is one of our big ticket items for the future.” With regard to the recent donation from the Aldous family, Carter said this is just the latest example of the ongoing support the NCLA has received from the community. “It is very encouraging we have so many great people donating to the lodge,” she said. “We receive donations every month, and they are all very important. A huge thank you to the Aldous family for such a significant donation.” When speaking with Northern Pride, Donna Aldous expressed her reasons for choosing to support the NCLA.

“My husband (Barry) and I had talked about doing this, but it was just something we never got around to,” Aldous said. “With his passing, I thought this was the time to get it done. As a family – we have four daughters still living in Meadow Lake – this community has been very good to us, and it’s time to give a little back.” Aldous also said, if she and her husband had stayed in Meadow Lake, they would like have moved into the Northwest Community Lodge at some point. “I live in Saskatoon now, and will likely be spending less time in Meadow Lake, but, after 45 years in the community, with four daughters there and, of course, our grandchildren, it’s always going to be part of our heritage,” she said. Aldous also described the lodge as a beautiful building. “It’s also much needed in the community,” she said. “It’s definitely utilized by the entire northwest community. It’s paramount.”

The NCLA also continues to raise money through various fundraising initiatives including the second annual NCLA Kids’ Carnival scheduled for May 2 at the Meadow Lake Civic Centre. “Last year that event was a huge success – we raised nearly $17,000,” Carter said.