The Yorkton and area Jump Start Program promotes healthy lifestyles by providing funds and sports equipment to help area youngsters to become involved in sports and recreation activities. Teaming up with the Yorkton Canadian Tire Store and the community the local Jump Start Committee held a fund-raising barbecue for the program.
Jump Start chair Irma Van De Bon says a barbecue with a matching donation from the Canadian Tire store, combined with a donation by the Esterhazy midget hockey team raised $4,197 for the Jump Start Program this year. "Those funds help to support children and youth in Yorkton and area who wouldn't be abler to participate in sports and recreation because of a financial barrier," Van De Bon explains.
Yorkton Canadian Tire Store owner Doug Bullis says since 2005 Canadian Tire has helped over 709 kids. "Last year we helped over 218 play who couldn't afford to play from Yorkton and surrounding area," Bullis notes.
This year Canadian Tire will spend over $30,000 to help to help over 250 kids, Bullis states.
Esterhazy midget hockey team coach Bill Paramor says the club took the $770 originally earmarked for a season wind-up to donate to the Jump Start Program. "Because of the wet weather we couldn't get onto the golf courses or any of the other places we wanted to go," Paramor says. He polled the team which decided to make a charitable donation with the wind-up money.
Canadian Tire, Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Boys and Girls Club and the City of Yorkton all partner in the Jump Start Program. The local committee, chaired by Van De Bon, identifies the children who require support and allocates the funds. "It's because of Canadian Tire and Canadian Tire Jump Start that we have those funds to allocate, so a big 'thank you' to them," Van De Bon closes.
