Staff
Knox United Church managed to hang onto 11th place over the weekend in the Aviva Community Fund Challenge.
The church’s submission sat in 11th place in its category in the semi-final round on Friday and remained there throughout the weekend.
“It is a tremendous opportunity to possibly obtain outside dollars to greatly improve a very popular community building,” stressed Bill Gushulak, noting the church requires funding in order to make the building more accessible.
It is working to install an elevator and barrier-free washrooms, with a price tag of about $160,000.
The submission needs to at least finish in the top 15 to move on to the final round and a shot at the $100,000 grand prize.
But it needs its supporters to vote daily in order to advance.
“Several projects are hot on our tail as they are desperately trying to improve their position, and the only way we can hold them off is if we continue to receive your important and valued support,” Gushulak said.
“Today, I’m voting in honour of all the seniors who choose to have Meals on Wheels delivered on Christmas Day since they can’t reach the lower level of our building to attend the community Christmas dinner,” noted Lisa Brockie.
“For people with a medical disability, life is isolating enough without missing community and family events because of poor accessibility.
“Please join me in voting to support this project,” she urged.
“We could also dedicate votes to all those grandparents who over the years watch grandchildren practice their piece for weeks in preparation for the annual Festival of the Performing Arts but are unable to see the adjudicated performance,” echoed Gushulak.
“Our elevator/lift will eliminate that from happening in the future,” he said.
“The addition of accessible washrooms [also] will modernize our building to currently expected standards.”
Current supporters, as well as any new ones, can vote online at www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf19619
People can vote once a day per e-mail address until Dec. 10.
