Spirit of the Holiday Season Alive and Well

Spirit of the Holiday Season Alive and Well

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

The spirit of the holiday season is alive and well in Mundare.

Mundare Fire Chief Glenda Dales said the department recently completed its food bank collection that was held during its community appreciation supper on November 29.

The fire department is also heading up a toy drive for the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton. “The idea is the brainchild of Jason Warawa,” says Dales. Donations of new unwrapped toys can be left at the Mundare town office until December 20.

Part of the vision of the Servus Credit Union is to value communities, and staff at the Mundare location recently hosted the Make It and Take It Christmas Ornament event during the annual Christmas Extravaganza on December 7. Manager Shelly Taylor said they have hosted the event for the past eight years, and was more than happy to supply fresh popcorn, juice and treats for participants. “We are going to try organize something for Family Day,” added Taylor. The branch also hosts complimentary events on Farmer’s Day, during Agri-Days, and a Harvest Breakfast in the Fall.

During the Christmas Extravaganza members of the Mundare Library board offered free books to the children who visited Santa. They also supplied treats and held a raffle during the event. Monica Dascavich, the newest board member, was also on hand to greet visitors. The library board also hosts a silent auction and book sale during Agri-Days and sells community calendars in the Fall.

Members of the Communities In Bloom (CIB) Committee were also busy during the Christmas Extravaganza bake sale at the Mundare Recreation Centre on Dec. 7. Members and volunteers baked 88 trays of goodies in addition to many pies and cakes. Proceeds from the event help members to plant flowers and trees throughout the community every year. CIB also hosted a raffle and accepted food bank donations during the event.

Mary Immaculate Hospital Auxiliary (MIHA) members were also on hand during the event with their Lite-a-Lites mini-Christmas tree. For a nominal fee people were able to write memorial messages to loved ones. MIHA members recently held their own highly successful annual bake sale. Members fill Christmas stockings and purchase Christmas gifts for the long term care residents. The auxiliary has also donated money to the Mary Immaculate Hospital Foundation which is currently in the process of raising funds to purchase a new 20 passenger bus for the long term care residents.

Sylvia Zacharkiw, Chair of the Mary Immaculate Hospital Foundation, said members decided in November of 2017 to raise funds for the bus. Even though there was a lot of “red tape” to go through, the organization has ordered the bus, and expects it to arrive in the Spring of 2020. The bus is valued at $160,000 and has fold up seats which allow room for six wheelchairs. To date, the hospital foundation has received a provincial grant of $50,000 and between $6,000 and 7,000 worth of donations. The remainder of the money will have to come from donations, and she has been spreading the word through the town newsletter and will be mailing out a flyer in the near future.