OLDS — The Olds College Ag Mech Club has donated a total of $10,500 to a couple of causes.
On June 2, the club presented a cheque for $10,000 to STARS air ambulance and $500 to Olds BGC (formerly known as the Boys and Girls Club of Olds and Area).
Ag Mech Club president Carter Kittlitz said the club decided to donate the lion’s share of the money to STARS air ambulance at the suggestion of college advisors.
They gave the remainder of the money to Olds BGC in order to support a local group.
This was the club’s first donation to STARS in four years.
Kittlitz said the reason they were able to donate so much money is that the vast majority of it grew in coffers during the pandemic.
They also undertook some fundraisers.
Two of the main ones were a car bash and a mock wedding.
“The car bash is an event where you take a car, there are no fluids in it, and then see how long it lasts ‘till it blows up," he said during an interview.
“And then everyone gets to beat off welded-on washers and beat them off for prizes.”
Just as it sounds, the mock wedding is a fake wedding, which the club held at the Alumni Centre.
Money was obtained in that event via ticket and liqour sales.
The club also holds a shop night during which members can bring in their vehicles to work on them. They pay $25 each to do so.
Gerlitz said instructors usually donate those fees back to the club.
He said it “definitely” feels good to be able to cut those cheques and help out the community.
Olds College dean of trades and skills Dennis Beaudoin is proud of club members for cutting the two cheques.
“For these guys to do this is, it’s unbelievable. That's a lot of money,” he said.
“Sometimes the students in the college will have a bad rap with the community, but these guys came through and they give back to the community and they do all sorts of things.
“I'm really proud of them, really happy for them to be able to do this.
“They put in time they put in the effort to help the community and we want to support their education and the community,” he added.
