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Friends, families and residents of St. Mary’s Villa participated in Sunday’s Walk for St. Mary’s Villa. The “Build and Home” Walk saw trekkers head from the Villa toward Highway 5, everyone basking in the Sunshine of what turned out to be a glorious day. Walkers pledged dollars toward the construction of a new St. Mary’s Villa complex.
Everyone returned from an invigorating walk to a burger sale fundraiser hosted by the Humboldt Lions Club, sponsored by the Humboldt Co-op, and enjoyed musical entertainment by Brian Grest and Friends.
Attendees received an update on plans and fundraiser for the new villa from Executive Director of the St. Mary’s Villa Foundation Donna Muench.
“Just a quick update on where we are with the new care home – no, we have not received the official announcement yet, but we know that it’s coming,” Muench told the crowd. “It’s why we started raising funds in 2018. The last conversation we had was that it would be between a 100 and 120 bed home at a cost of $80 to $100 million.”
Approval from the government and the Saskatchewan Health Authority is required before design planning can begin.
The breakdown is that 20 percent of the cost will come from levies in Humboldt and surrounding communities and RMs. All the equipment and furnishing costs will be borne by the Foundation through its fundraising. Depending on the start date of the project and cost increases, the price tag will be between $2-5 million, Muench said.
The most likely location of the new facility, which will ultimately be determined by the SHA, would be near the hospital. Discussions have already opened with the City of Humboldt about securing land in the area.
“To date we have raised just over $760,000 since starting in 2018.”
Muench thanked all those participants who came out to the event and who have supported the Foundation’s activities. She concluded by announcing the Villa Foundation has been selected as the receiving charity for this coming Holiday Smile Cookie campaign by Tim Hortons in Humboldt.
Muench invited Beryl Bauer and members of the Lake Lenore Lions Club and Humboldt Lions Club to make a special presentation. A cheque for $5247.65 was handed over by the Lions Club International Foundation and the Humboldt Lions to cover the cost of a new sit-stand lift for the Villa.
Bauer explained that the money came from a grant from the Lions world-wide foundation that has given over $1B in grants during its existence. As part of the Lions Club’s Campaign 100 project, the Lions Club district was allocated 15 percent of funds generated in the district. A previous grant was targeted to the Humboldt Food Bank. Over $750,000 in grants from the LCIF have benefitted Saskatchewan organizations, Bauer explained.
The check was presented to Donna Muench, representing the Villa Foundation, by Bauer and current District Governor Bernie Kramchynsky.
The afternoon festivities continued with visiting, the wonderful music, and the glorious sunshine of an early summer afternoon.