Fundraising for Wheatland Crisis Centre

Andrea Roberts
Times Intern

 

The simple painting of a bus to raise funds for the Wheatland Crisis Shelter turned into a much bigger deal when a healthy $1,000 monetary donation from a company turned the event into a BBQ with live entertainment.
Campers at Eagle Lake RV Resort came out to help support the Wheatland Crisis Shelter, which helps victims of domestic violence.
“It was wonderful to see the support for people who need help in the community,” said Leslie Pringle, manager of the resort. “That people came out on a cold and rainy day and had a good time and reached deep into their pockets during a recession to make sure that those that need to be looked after are looked after. So it was a pretty wonderful feeling.”
The idea to paint the bus began a year ago, when some of the regular campers approached Pringle and offered to have people pay a little to put some messages or handprints on a school bus converted into a camper before being painted.
Pringle agreed but a few days before the event, Dorian Mayers who previously owned the bus and helped plan it, approached the company he works for, EasyTrim Reveals, about the fundraiser. The company began supporting the initiative and decided to donate some food for a BBQ and at least $1,000 to the Wheatland Crisis Shelter.
“We thought it was a good cause you know,” said Lise Reid, the CFO of the company who was there for the fundraiser. “It is a need in the community for sure and we thought that was a nice thing to get behind and we had no problem doing that and we are glad to help.”
What was once meant to be a simple painting of a bus became a BBQ with live entertainment and a number of raffle prizes that had been donated by local businesses.
“When something like this is going on, the fact that there is publicity around this is wonderful not just for us but for our clients,” said Wheatland Crisis Shelter Representative Tina, who for safety concerns wouldn’t give her last name. “It gives them an understanding of the community support that they have for circumstances. It is not just about what they are going through personally and the support that they get from us but the support they get from the community and the nearby care if they are doing okay.”