After garnering support in Cold Lake, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northern Alberta (RMHCNA) is ready to make a move into Bonnyville.
“We're calling it the Bonnyville Community Engagement Committee. What we're looking at doing is trying to see if there's opportunities for us to partner with already pre-existing events or activities,” explained Oreen Skiba, stakeholder relations manager for the Lakeland region.
She added, “We've been in Cold Lake now for two years, and our events have been very successful and have gotten to a point where we feel they're sustainable. So, now, it's time to branch out into other towns and cities in the Lakeland.”
The Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for families with sick children when they are in the hospital. With 32 rooms, it costs approximately $7,000 per night to run the house - $2.5 million per year.
From the Lakeland region, there have been 125 families who have stayed in the house, predominately coming from the Bonnyville – Cold Lake area.
“I'm sure a lot of people in Bonnyville know some of the families who have utilized the house. The funds that are raised here go to the house in Edmonton, but they are helping local families when they need it most,” said Skiba.
By providing a place to stay with other families in similar situations, the RMHNA gives those with sick children a support network while they're away from home. It also helps absorb the tremendous financial impact that families face, and allows them to continue on with a somewhat-regular routine.
In addition to providing accommodations, the Ronald McDonald House also offers a number of programs including a shuttle to the hospital, a meal program and an education program for siblings to keep up-to-date on schoolwork.
“Some of the statistics are amazing, and some of the people that have used these facilities, we know these families,” exclaimed Coun. Jim Cheverie, who is attending the Bonnyville committee meetings on behalf of town council. “The financial burden on families from here in the Lakeland region, they saved $250,000 on hotel accommodation fees since they have the Ronald McDonald House to stay in.”
While they're still working out the logistics of what events will be held and when, the committee has been in talks with the Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce to partner on the chamber's annual golf tournament in September.
“The chamber is great because it gives us an in for the business community and will help with the awareness. We'd also love to get involved with the Jr. A team and maybe do some 50/50. We've got quite a large volunteer population that would jump into activities like that,” Skiba explained.
The Bonnyville Community Engagement Committee, which consists of about 12 members, is also in the process of developing an annual event of their own. Cheverie said he's been impressed with the enthusiasm of the committee, and the ideas that are being generated.
“The one idea was a skeet shooting competition. In Grande Prairie they raised $265,000 with family skeet shooting… Another example would be an Amazing Race Bonnyville. An indoor Amazing Race where you'd have children five to seven doing a feat as a function of the amazing race, and then kids the next age up, then teenagers.”
Skiba noted that she's not sure if they'll have an event up and running in 2017 yet, but the committee is hoping to have the specific event ironed out by January.
Anyone interested in getting involved can contact Oreen Skiba at 780-545-1976.