INNISFAIL - The Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion has thrown down the gauntlet to show it means business when it becomes time to support the community.
On Nov. 22, the legion gave away $25,500 to nine local and area non-profit groups and organizations. The $25,500 is believed to be the largest donation the legion, the third largest in membership in Canada, has ever given away at one time, at least in recent memory.
The money was given away to representatives of the groups at the start of the monthly board meeting. The legion donated $5,000 to the Kinsmen Club of Innisfail and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Prairies to Peaks, and $4,000 to the Innisfail Minor Football Association and the 2017 breakfast program at Innisfail High School. The legion donated $2,500 to the Innisfail and District Historical Village and $2,000 to 1390 Royal Canadian Army Cadets in Red Deer. And finally, $1,000 went to the Innisfail & District Christmas Bureau, Innisfail and District Food Bank and The Loft Society.
Following the receipt of the legion donations, representatives from the groups expressed deep gratitude, notably those who deal with citizens who face financial challenges.
“It's a blessing to have the money to help feed those students who are unable to get breakfast at home,” said Anna Allen, an admin support staff employee at Innisfail High School. “We are not sure of the numbers, but we know every day students are coming to that breakfast program. They are there at 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. getting breakfast.
“It's awesome,” she added. “It brings a smile to their faces and food into their belly and they are able to learn, and that is what we want; that's our goal.”
Del Seabrook, president of the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion, said his organization's initiative this year to help community organizations through a large sum of money may turn out to be an annual event.
“It's not been, but we would surely like to make it that way,” said Seabrook. “We were fantastic supporters for STARS (air ambulance) but we've now decided to put money back into our community, as well as some to STARS. I think it's going to carry on for sure, no doubt.”
He said it was also important to contribute to the groups, particularly youth and seniors, because of the ongoing committed support the legion receives from community citizens and the Town of Innisfail.
“The youth, and the kids in the schools – if they are hungry that is not a good thing,” said Seabrook, who also specifically pointed out the noteworthy community contributions by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Prairies to Peaks and the Innisfail Minor Football Association (IMFA).
“They did not have anybody that sits on the sidelines,” he said of the IMFA. “They let everybody play and a lot of young people who could not afford any other sports go there. Again, this is a major, major thing to contribute to.”
Del Seabrook, president of the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion
"We were fantastic supporters for STARS (air ambulance) but we've now decided to put money back into our community, as well as some to STARS. I think it's going to carry on for sure, no doubt."
