Two big community contributions by SUN nurses

A couple of sizable financial contributions have been made to the Battlefords community by the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses.

The first is a $25,000 contribution to Concern for Youth, with funding going towards their drop-in youth centre project.

The second goes to AMGITS, the volunteer non-profit whose mission is to improve the lives of patients at Saskatchewan Hospital. The $25,000 donation to their organization goes to Camp Cosmo, located at Jackfish Lake, where patients from Saskatchewan Hospital are able to spend some time during the summer months to relax and take part in recreational activities.

The funds are from SUN's community support donations, which are rotated around various communities.

As SUN provincial board member Lorna Tarasoff explains, "This is the Battlefords turn to get the donation." The money comes from union dues raised from their membership.

Both AMGITS and Concern for Youth submitted detailed proposals to SUN for the funding and were selected in a competitive process.

The area at Camp Cosmo was in need of rejuvenation. The money will go towards paying for materials rehabilitating the shingles, siding, the deck railing, windows and other general improvements there. An event is planned for Aug. 12 showing off some of the improvements done.

Concern for Youth chair Kent Lindgren said the money towards their organization will be used to open their new youth drop-in centre. A feasibility study for that project, expected to be done by the end of October, will look into different options for the centre including location and programming as well. Surveys are also to be done to determine what youth will want from a drop-in centre.

The expectation is the opening will take place in the new year.

"This is really going to be a huge step towards making that happen," said Lindgren of the $25,000 donation.