Telemiracle in Meadow Lake is back… sort of. While Telemiracle 48 itself is scheduled to take place in Regina Feb. 24 and 25, the Meadow Lake Kinsmen and Kinettes have an event of their own planned for the local community two weeks earlier.

“This year, the Kinettes and Kinsmen are planning a Telemiracle weekend Feb. 9 and 10,” explained Meadow Lake Kinettes member Louise Slater. “The plan was to have a dance Feb. 9, but we’re not sure about that now. We’re having another meeting Wednesday (Jan. 31), so we will be able to confirm things then (this meeting took place after this week’s news deadline). It’s been tough with both costs and availability to find a band. On Saturday, Feb. 10, however, we will be hosting a pancake breakfast at the Meadow Lake Civic Centre starting at 9 a.m. It’s by donation. Then, at 1 p.m., we’ll be having a bingo with all proceeds going to support Telemiracle.” The Kinettes will also be holding an online auction again this year, the final day of which will correspond with the Jan 10. event. “The auction begins Feb. 6 and goes until Feb. 10,” Slater said. “We’ve been looking for community donations for that, while we will also be taking pledges that day too.”

For more information or to donate an item for the auction, call or text 306-240- 6398. “Last year, we were able to present a cheque for more than $15,000 to Telemiracle,” Slater continued. “The money raised stays in Saskatchewan and helps hundreds of people with medical costs and equipment.” In past years, the Kinsmen and Kinettes have held a local radio-thon/public event at the same time as the province-wide Telemiracle telethon. Slater explained the reasons for holding this year’s local event early.

“This way, if any of our members want to go to the show in Regina, they will be available to go,” she said. “Telemiracle corresponds with the end of the school break as well, and it’s not always as easy to get people to come out and volunteer when there’s a school break. We hope things go well this year and, hopefully, we can build upon it next year.” The local radio-thon has not been held since the COVID-19 pandemic. “It may never again be the same as it was, but we’re going to see how things go and, hopefully, we can make our event bigger and better as the years go forward,” Slater noted.

This was echoed by Kinsmen member Geoff Barton. “We are exploring some new options for Telemiracle going forward,” Barton said. “This year’s event is the beginning of the local clubs’ easing back into a regular event. While the full, 20-hour radio-thon might not return, primarily due to unmanageable costs to us, people can look forward to local Telemiracle events in upcoming years.” TeleMiracle is a 20-hour, annual telethon broadcast live in Saskatchewan. In spite of only having a population of around one million people, the residents of the province have helped the Kinsmen Foundation raise more than $159 million since 1977.

“I have been on the Telemiracle board itself, so I see how the money goes to the people of Saskatchewan, covering anything from mileage and food to specialized equipment and more,” Slater said. “Everyone knows somebody who has benefited from Telemiracle. It’s amazing. The more people who can come out to support our event, the merrier. Whatever people are able to give, we will be happy to accept. Just come on out and have a great time.”