OLDS — Mountain View Emergency Shelter Society (MVESS) officials are hoping the community will pitch in to help build the facility, now that they’ve raised more money and have obtained land for it.
Fundraising for the shelter, which will serve as a safe place for people fleeing domestic violence to stay temporarily, has been in the works for many years.
A radiothon held May 12 on 96.5 CKFM and hosted by Royal LePage Wildrose Real Estate raised $35,775, and donations are still being received.
The Kiwanis Club of Olds is also hosting a 50/50 fundraising raffle for the project until June 6. The draw will be held June 8.
During the radiothon, MVESS president Joe Carignan announced the society had signed a lease with the Town of Olds for land on which to build the shelter.
It will be located on 0.64 acres of land at the south end of 50th Avenue in Olds, just off 54th Street.
During an interview, Carignan said now that the society has land for the structure, money raised during the radiothon, coupled with fundraisers in previous years, provides them with enough cash to begin construction. He’s hoping that will begin next spring.
However, he said it won’t be one big massive build, but likely a modular style of building that can be added on to in later years.
In an email, Michael Merritt, the town’s chief administrative officer, confirmed the deal with the MVESS for the land.
He said that land is located between the OR Hedges Park and the railway. Its official address will be 5001 - 54th St.
“The town is supportive of the MVESS and this has been demonstrated in the town honouring a previous commitment to them to provide a potential site and to enter into a long-term lease allowing for the construction of the building to offer programs and services to the Olds area and Mountain View region,” he wrote.
Carignan and Emilie Webb, the MVESS coordinator of outreach services, are hopeful design and construction of the facility will involve the community as a whole as a kind of old-fashioned barn-raising.
“We’ve got to meet with a contractor. We’ve had people even as late as yesterday I’ll say, step forward with different businesses and say ‘hey, how can I help,’” Carignan said Thursday.
“And then of course some of the trades in the area have volunteered their services, so that again cuts down some of the cost.”
Webb said her husband and his brother have a business doing underground utility installation and excavation work.
“I know that they’re happy to donate their time for that,” she said. “I know that there are other people within the town of Olds who have also said, ‘Count us in for our time, like, we’re happy to donate our time.’
“So I think that if people can pull together and help in that way, that’ll be huge."
Webb is pleased with how well the radiothon went.
“You know what? With the way that COVID is, the unemployment and everything else, I think that anything we raise is better than no money. So for me, I’m just grateful that some people are pulling together," she said.
“I think because it’s taken so long with all the red tape and everything to get this going, you kind of at some point I think wonder if it’s ever going to happen,” she added with a short laugh.
