Thoughts right now are directed to charitable organizations and events.
It is very unfortunate that most walks and events to fund charitable organizations have had to be cancelled for this year due to the pandemic. It seems that those who are already facing hardships due to their health concerns or possibly financial situations are again having to think of alternate ways to make things work.
When you’re down so low you can’t even dangle your feet off the end of a piece of paper, it’s hard to see a way out of a seemingly hopeless situation.
My mother-in-law had Parkinson's disease and the Parkinson SuperWalk annual event has always been a reminder of how devastating and debilitating this disease is and how sad it is to see someone afflicted with it. This year’s SuperWalk in Moose Jaw that was scheduled for September 12th has been cancelled due to the pandemic but there is an alternative of support that has been devised where individuals can register to do their own 2 km walk and donate online at superwalk@parkinson.ca. The funds raised go towards much-needed research and education for those living with Parkinson's.
Although for the past few years the Journey to Hope annual walk for suicide awareness and prevention has gone indoors because of the weather, this year it will be diverting back to the outdoors in Crescent Park on Saturday, September 26th. Besides the event itself, there are several other alternatives established to raise funds in support. The group is selling ‘Soles for Hope’ placards at South Hill Fine Foods, holding an ongoing quilt raffle with tickets available via email, and walk pledge forms to be filled out and returned by Friday, September 25th at noon. To obtain or return pledge forms or to purchase raffle tickets, email dferguson@sasktel.net.
It’s also wonderful to see that the Salvation Army Toy Run will be going ahead on September 19th but with a different look this year. The bikers will be cruising up and down Main Street starting around 1:30 p.m., dropping their toys off a little later at the church between 2 and 3 p.m. Last year around 300 bikers took part in the event but this year gatherings are limited to 30 people in any one area making it a little more difficult for large groups to gather. The hope is that the Moose Jaw community will continue to support this endeavour to make sure that the Salvation Army can provide a gift for every less-fortunate child under the tree this Christmas.
And on that note, we at the Moose Jaw Express would like to personally welcome Lester and Almeda Ward as the new pastors of the Salvation Army to Moose Jaw. Originally from Newfoundland with a one-year stop in Winnipeg, they will be serving both Moose Jaw and Assiniboia in Saskatchewan. As well, we would like to thank Dan and Wendy Broome for their community service as Majors of the Salvation Army in Moose Jaw during the past few years and we wish them well as they continue in service down East.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
