Duane Hicks
The Fort Frances “Community Chest” received a $5,000 donation from the local mill last week—a much-needed for a community fund that is seeing plenty of use.
Joelle Blanc and Linda Hamilton, who sit on the “Community Chest” committee, were at the Resolute Forest Products office here last Thursday to accept the cheque from Alain Boivin, senior vice-president of pulp and paper operations of Resolute Forest Products, CEP Local 92 president Larry Kellar, and CEP Local 306 president Kevin Watts.
The Fort Frances mill was awarded the funds after employees safely achieved 250,000 man hours without a recordable incident, with staff opting to give it to the “Community Chest.”
Hamilton said the “Community Chest” has been doling out many dollars this year—to such an extent that it has had to, at least temporarily, change how it “upfronts” travel grants and to be more strict than in the past.
“When we did an audit, we found that 80 percent of our monies being used were directed at that, and we’re really quite concerned about depleting sources for what we really intended,” she explained.
“We’re trying to follow our guidelines a little bit more,” echoed Blanc, adding the “Community Chest” truly is meant to help those who are “financially strapped in an emergency.”
Hamilton noted besides “upfronting” travel grants, “Community Chest” funds also are intended to help families pay for accommodations, food, and travel—in general, helping family members to be able to stay with their loves ones receiving medical care.
Both Hamilton and Blanc said they’re grateful the “Community Chest” has been the recipient of donations this year from third-party fundraiser events such as the Law Enforcement and RBC Royal Bank, Bob and Nick Mainville charity golf tournaments, as well as from church groups and in memoriams.
The “Community Chest” will hold a fundraiser in February at La Place Rendez-Vous. This event not only will be a chance to bolster its coffers, but a time for those who’ve been helped to say thank you.
A “Community Chest” fundraiser was not held this past February, in lieu of a separate fundraiser held last December.
Hamilton said as more and more people become familiar with the “Community Chest,” it has become credible as a charity of choice—and even attracted attention from elsewhere.
“It’s amazing,” she noted. “We’ll get a phone call from Kenora, Dryden, or Atikokan, and we’re the only community that has this kind of an organization.
“It works because we’re comfortable with it,” she reasoned.
“Maybe there are risks but I think the fact that the town manages our money is a big factor,” added Hamilton.
“If they didn’t help us, we wouldn’t be doing this.”
“Every time I e-mail [town treasurer Laurie Witherspoon] for a cheque, I say, ‘Thanks a million. We could not do this without you,’” noted Blanc.
“They just do a great job,” reiterated Hamilton. “They’re not only on top of issuing cheques quickly, but we’re depositing cheques there regularly.
“And they’re really good about accounting for us and giving us reports when we want them,” she said, adding the town also directs inquires for aid back to the “Community Chest.”
