A number of Community View Lions and Ronald McDonald House general manager Kayla Schmalzbauer pose for a picture outside the Medicine Hat house on Tuesday.--News Photo Anna Smith
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
Completing a $50,000 commitment, the Community View Lions Club made its final donation to the Medicine Hat Ronald McDonald House on Saturday.
This commitment is closing out a year early, explains Russell Peters, first vice president of the Community View Lions club.
“We did a five-year commitment to come up with $50,000,” said Peters. “And we did have some help. One family, who are friends of a member of our club, contributed roughly $12,500, so just more than one fifth of it was still made by one family, and we’re really pleased to have come up with the remaining amount.”
The funds will help the Ronald McDonald House do what it does best, says general manager Kayla Schmalzbauer.
“This money helps us keep families close to their sick child when family is needed the most,” said Schmalzbauer. “It will be used to aid in our daily operations, so we can give them a place to stay, food to eat, as well as all of our programming.”
Since it opened in Medicine Hat in 2020, the house consistently has at least one family staying there, said Schmalzbauer, with them being at half capacity at the time of the donation with three different families residing within the house. It was also explained that the organization relies largely on grants and donations in order to continue operations.
Saturday was also the first opportunity for the Lions Club to see the interior of the remodelled home, as the COVID-19 pandemic has previously meant that social distancing made a tour impossible. The home features six rooms for families, as well as a communal kitchen, recreation room, nursery and sitting room.
“I was happy to come and see the place,” said Peters. “It’s one thing to know what it’s all about, and another to be able to see it with your own eyes.
“Today was our last $5,000 on our commitment, which ends this phase of our relationship, but it’s not the end of us supporting the Ronald McDonald House. It only takes a request from the facility if they need funds for something, and we will continue to support it, I’m sure.”
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