The Portage Fire Fighters Social Club has made a meaningful donation to a local charity, thanks to a creative fundraiser that got local businesses involved.
Firefighter Jess McDougall, who helps organize the effort, says the initiative has been growing steadily.
“This is our second year doing the business wash in Portage la Prairie,” she notes. “As a group, we just decided that we were going to switch it up every year, and this year we chose United Way West Central Manitoba as one of our places we’d like to donate to.”
Dozens of businesses take part
The fundraiser gives storefronts across the city a seasonal shine in exchange for donations.
McDougall says each business contributes at least $50, although many go above and beyond.
“We average around 35 to 40 businesses,” she adds. “Some request specific areas to be cleaned but most of the time it’s just the front of the store.”
Supporting a wide range of causes
All told, this spring’s wash raised $5,000 for United Way West Central Manitoba, an organization the firefighters felt would have wide-reaching impact.
“When we were looking into different places to donate, we take into consideration who takes a big part in the community,” McDougall says. “We just noticed that United Way has several different organizations going on. We thought it was a good chance to hit a lot of different ones instead of just one main one.”
Firefighters thank community for support
This donation builds on the club’s overall success, raising a total of about $12,000 since the program began two years ago.
In a post on social media, the Portage Firefighters Social Club thanked all participating businesses and emphasized the spirit behind the effort.
“This donation reflects our ongoing commitment not just to emergency response, but to building a stronger, more connected community here in Portage la Prairie.”
The next business wash fundraiser is expected to return next spring.
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