A local group fighting to restore Stewart Valley to its pre-fire state was recently awarded a more than significant grant from the Innovation Federal Credit Union.The
Stinger Strong Community Fire Rebuild Fund received $20,000 through Innovation's Legacy Community Development Grant Fund which will be used to develop and reconstruct a sports area.
Jennie Moen, board member of the Stinger Strong Community Fire Rebuild Fund, was thrilled that the group was approved for such a substantial amount of funding for a project close to the community's hearts.
"Since the school has been delayed for so long, we ended up trying to rebuild our Stewart Valley sports ground area, so our kids had a place to go and play because the school ground is pretty unsafe at this point," shared Moen.
She noted that the group will be building an outdoor shelter and baseball diamond and will be purchasing a unit similar to a sea can, which they're hoping to have delivered this fall if the final details are approved.
"It's really difficult to raise the funds that we need to really make an impact and to rebuild a sports ground," Moen said. "Right now, with grants alone, we're at about $60,000 including the Innovation Federal Credit Union's grant."
The grant was one of 28 handed out to organizations around the province so far in 2024 as a part of a $5 million investment into Saskatchewan people and projects.
"It's been a lot since we lost our school two years ago and the support that we've received has just been amazing," she added. "This grant is huge for our entire community, but most importantly our kids, it means the world to us."