Young Aria helps draw the winning ticket from the hamper raffle. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Helping community

Prince Albert Royal Purple Elks provide Christmas gift to local families in need

Dec 18, 2023 | 12:00 PM

Local families in Prince Albert are receiving a helping hand this Christmas, thanks to the efforts of Royal Purple Elks #50.

The community group raised over $3,700 through a hamper raffle. The majority of the money will go to two local children with hearing and speech related challenges. Angie Nelson, the Honoured Royal Lady (president) told paNOW they started the fundraising effort in November and a member thought it would be nice to do something extra.

“They are both single parents and it just makes us feel so good when we can help anybody in the community that is needing help,” she said.

Nelson noted members have sat at both the Lake Country Co-Op and Superstore, and one of the grandmothers also helped.

“And she sold over 20 books which was amazing,” Nelson said.

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The ladies pose with the Christmas hamper items. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

The Spark Centre is located in Saskatoon and so the families face costs related to travel. Nelson indicated plans to make a separate donation to the centre in the new year.

Shonia Tretiak is Aria’s grandmother and explained that the help the girl’s mother is receiving, is a lifesaver.

“As a mother of five, extra cash for these sorts of trips is hard to find for her quarterly appointments, never mind just one. Aria has made significant progress with these appointments. She is starting to communicate a bit easier and trying to be verbal, so hopefully in the near future we will hear her voice.”

In addition to providing money for the two families, a separate donation of $500 was also made to the local Salvation Army. The person who won the hamper decided to give it back to the Salvation Army to give to a family in need.

The cheque presentation. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

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