Seven regional Save-On-Foods grocery stores have teamed up to raise money for Angel Flight Kootenays, a volunteer transport service that helps locals access medical care.
Grocery stores in Cranbrook, Kimberley, Fernie, Sparwood, Golden, Creston and Nelson have raised $27,148.58 for Angel Flight East Kootenay, a volunteer-led organization that transports patients to Kelowna for medical treatment.
The grocery chain has given $140,605 to Angel Flight since it started the initiative six years ago.
Angel Flight president Brent Bidston accepted the donation on behalf of the organization during a presentation at Cranbrook Save-On on Oct. 2.
Save-On-Foods manager Ted Murrell expressed his appreciation for the local businesses and loyal customers who contributed money to the cause, including Royal Lepage East Kootenay.
Bidston said Angel Flight has added 100 new passengers since last year and are now doing two trips per day. Money will go towards funding trip-related expenses.
“We’re getting so busy now that we’re doing double rotations and that doubles our costs. Every penny counts,” he said.
Bidston reported that Angel Flight has recovered from the fuel shortage it suffered in the summer.
“We lost our supply of AvGas fuel for about three weeks, and we were without fuel in Kelowna and Cranbrook for two weeks,” he said. “We managed the situation by getting our fuel from Fairmont and happily we didn’t cancel a single flight.”
“As it turned out, the problem wasn’t as bad as it could have been,” he added.
For more information on Angel Flight East Kootenay or to donate visit www.angelflightek.ca
