Over the last year, the Sicamous Seniors Centre Society has made some improvements and ironed out the wrinkles and now wants to thank the many community members and groups that supported those efforts.
The centre's board of directors will be debuting the newly rebuilt accessible entrance with a ribbon cutting and community thank you after it was made possible from local generosity.
鈥淚n the fall... we needed a new dishwasher and we started a fundraising campaign and within three months we raised almost $30,000," board director Mary Walters said. "And then we needed a new entrance, and by the time the campaign was done, we had enough money for the front entrance.鈥�
Fundraising efforts included signage and canvassing the community, a Christmas Bake Sale and Cinnamon Bun Cafe in honour of the late bun baker Bernice Hyam, and a Fashion Show & Tea. Additionally, they received funding from the District of Sicamous, the legion, United Church Thrift Store and from some of the centre鈥檚 165 members, including one anonymous gift of $10,000.
Additionally, they had local tradespeople who helped out, with a plumber and electrician installing the dishwasher, and a contractor building the 鈥渁mazing鈥� front entrance that鈥檚 accessible for all. The former ramp entrance had deteriorated to the point that people with walkers or motorized wheelchairs had trouble navigating it, but 鈥減eople stepped up and now we have this beautiful entrance.鈥�
鈥淚t was a lot of encouraging people to come forward and support the Seniors Centre, and they did. I鈥檓 quite amazed,鈥� Walters said. 鈥淪o we wanted to do a community thank you... and kind of do a fun ribbon cutting to acknowledge everybody because it鈥檚 been an amazing year and people just came out of everywhere and supported us.鈥�
The ribbon cutting will take place at the centre at 1091 Shuswap Ave. on Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m. before the annual general meeting. As part of the latter, the board is also hoping to get some new members and volunteers as, having made some building upgrades, they now want to rejuvenate the membership and volunteer base to get more activities happening.
鈥淲e kind of need some young blood... some people want to call it the Community Centre, not the Seniors Centre because we need younger people," Walters added. "And I think that people think 鈥榦h it鈥檚 for the seniors鈥� but everyone鈥檚 invited to all our activities.鈥�
They鈥檙e hoping to get more helpers with a few hours to give as the entire facility from the board of directors, to the kitchen staff, to the activity leaders is run by volunteers.
鈥淭he volunteers make things happen in Sicamous.鈥�
