Submitted by The Fernie Legion
The Fernie Legion got into the Christmas spirit this past weekend, donating $6,000 to five community groups.
The funds were raised from weekly meat draws at the Legion through 2022, with the last meat draw for the year (Saturday December 17) a full house for the event, and for the funds to be presented to the community groups.
“It gives us the opportunity to give back to the community,” said Legion president, Jennifer Cronin.
“All funds that come in through the meat draw go back to local causes.”
The five groups that received donations were the Uplift Association, which works on inclusive programs for children ($500), the Salvation Army ($500), Twin Meadows Animal Rescue ($1,000), the Elk Valley Dolphins Swim Club ($1,000), and the Ghostriders ($3,000).
Each group helps the Legion run the weekly meat draw by providing volunteers to sell tickets to attendees.
Cronin thanked the community groups that volunteered time to help run the meat draws, and the locals that attended the Legion each Saturday to buy tickets and support the Legion.
“None of this would be possible without all of you supporting the meat draw every week,” she said.
Cronin also took the opportunity to present the outgoing president of the local Legion, Jeannie Watson, with an engraved glass and a chair from the Legion with a plaque in recognition for her years of service leading the local branch of the Legion through some tough years.
While the meat draw is usually held every Saturday, there is no meat draw this weekend (December 24) as it falls on Christmas eve.
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