In the spirit of giving The Revelstoke Current is pleased to present photos of the people and organizations that are tangibly helping to make this a truly Merry Christmas for those who are less fortunate or in need of assistance. We honour their efforts to make our community one that really cares for everyone. Merry Christmas!
Masons in Revelstoke and neighbouring communities stepped up to help the Community Connections Food Bank's Christmas Hamper Program Monday by presenting its coordinator, Patti Larson, with a cheque for $414 and more than 750 lbs of food. Posing with Patti are Scott Burke (left) District Deputy Grand Master Terry Ferguson and Garry Resvick. The Mason's District Deputy Grand Master of the year gets to allocate the lodge's donations to the food bank of his choice. Ferguson, a Revelstokian, chose to donate it here. David F. Rooney photo
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Moose Lodge 1245's administrator, Warren Watson, was happy to present Patti Larson with a $500 cheque for the Community Connections Food Bank's Christmas Hamper Program Monday. David F. Rooney photo
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District Deputy Grand Master Terry Ferguson (left) and Scott Burke of the the local Masonic Lodge present Nelli Richardson of the Revelstoke Women's Shelter with a cheque for $1,200. David F. Rooney photo
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Credit Union staff pose with some of the 26 gift bags, afghans and quilts they and their colleagues donated to the Community Connections Food Bank's Christmas Hamper Program on Saturday. David F. Rooney photo
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Cooper's Foods' Geri Sanborn (left) and Bryon Holdener (right) pose with Community Connections Food Bank Coordinator Patti Larson to promote the gift bags Cooper's has put together to help the Christmas Hamper Program. For $6.99 you can purchase one of the gift bags which will help feed needy families this winter. They're an easy way for people to help their less-fortunate neighbours. David F. Rooney photo
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Revelstoke Elks Lodge #453 demonstrated its understanding of the spirit of giving when Clancy Boettger presented Tyler Smith with a cheque for $1,000. The money is to be deposited in the Tyler Smith Fund account at the Credit Union. The fund was created because the first year after the 19-year-old has a heart transplant must be spent near St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. He won’t be able to work during that time and living expenses are not covered for transplant patients during that period. As a result, family and friends are trying to raise enough money to support him. David Bennewith photo
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Ginger Shoji of the Lake Revelstoke Dragon Boat Society and Patti Larson of the Community Connections Food Bank were two of the big winners at the Knights of Pythias weekly bingo at the Community Centre on Thursday. The Knights, represented by Bruce Ross (left), Don Crawford (center right beside Patti) and Wolfgang Seyfert presented the Dragon Boat Society with a cheque for $4,000 and the Food Bank's Christmas Hamper program with one for $2,000. All of the money was raised through the weekly bingo and is indicative of the remarkable generosity of this service organization and the community at large. "We couldn't do it without our volunteers and all the wonderful people who come out to play bingo," Crawford said. "We wish them and everyone else in town a truly wonderful Christmas." Incidentally, there were two large-ish pots at the bingo. The $1,200 Pythian Gold Pot was won by a local woman Thursday night. But the big $5,900 Pot o' Gold was carried over to next week. Will some lucky person win that in time for Christmas? David F. Rooney photo
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Community Connections Food Bank Coordinator Patti Larson (left front) was all smiles Thursday when members of the Revelstoke Quilters Guild dropped by with 100 hand-made pillow cases they wanted to donate to the Christmas Hamper Program. In front, from left to right are: Eleanor Hills (beside Patti); Dianne McKay and Elaine Greenwood. In back, from left to right are: Irene Scarcella, Darlene Dabell and Mary Bradshaw. Our local quilters certainly know to indulge their Christmas spirit! David F. Rooney photo
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The Revelstoke Snowmobile Club's Cathy Burke (left) and Brent Veideman presented Community Connections Food Bank Coordinator Patti Larson with $620 in Cooper's Gift Cards and more than 150 lbs of food the club raised to assist the Food Bank this Christmas season. This is the third year in a row that the club was the first organization in town to step up and assist the Food Bank's Christmas Hamper Program, which opened its doors today. There will be a number of benefits and other ways that citizens can help the less fortunate in our community this year. David F. Rooney photo
