At any rate, the numbers were solid for different organizations. The Boissevain Food Pantry was the biggest beneficiary, collecting $7,491 this year. Boissevain-Morton Library, Boissevain & Morton Foundation, and the Health Centre Auxiliary all cracked the $4,000 mark in 2024.
Each year, Donor’s Choice launches their April campaign. The “yellow sheets” are sent out in mailboxes, in which potential donors can pick the amounts they want to give to the various groups. Once decisions are made, they can either drop them off at the library or send them in. At one time, the organization was involved in a spring door-to-door canvass, but that has long fallen by the wayside. Lamb said there are no changes planned for 2025, as everything is working well
As well as traditional groups who would go door to door in the past, Lamb added this also gives a fundraising avenue for groups who never did a canvass. Interestingly, about half of the organizations on the list are local ones like Turtle Mountain Bible Camp or Prairie Partners, while the other are larger ones like the Canadian Cancer Society or Kidney Foundation. There is room for both in the campaign.
Westman Animal Rescue collected $1,651 in their first time on Donor’s Choice, being the newest group. Lamb said they were happy with what they collected. A question came at the AGM regarding Beckoning Hills Museum. They had been a part of the campaign in the past, but were dropped as their future was in doubt. However, this past year, a new board reorganized and reopened the museum. Lamb said they would have to reapply to come back, and he said they would be open to this if they received the letter. At this point, they could only come in for the 2026 campaign at the earliest.
The board will be staying intact for 2025 with one very big exception. Teresa Armstrong, who has been treasurer for most if not all of the organization’s history is stepping down. Deb Merritt, already a board member, is taking her place. Right now, they are transferring the records over to their own computer program, recognizing Armstrong will be very much missed.
“We as a board would like to extend a big, big thank you, huge thanks to Teresa for what she’s done for Donor’s Choice.”
The board also includes Donna Jean Lamb, Catherine Heide, Kent McKay and Leona Peters. Lamb added they are also looking for a couple more members.
Another change is they are bumping up the annual agency fee from $35 to $50 in order to be a part of the campaign.
He said about half of the organizations showed up for the cheque presentations this year. Some provincial organizations do not make it, but some do, and nearly all locals come out. The organization plans to continue with the event.
The Donor’s Choice campaign has been around for more than 20 years in Boissevain and worked well. Lamb said the founders wanted to save volunteer time and make giving more efficient and it has worked. You can always see what the different groups do with the money, and everyone appreciates the money they receive. Working on it is rewarding, he explained and he feels it still serves its purpose.
“We feel we’re still meeting our mandate by taking pressure off of volunteers. A lot of them did door to door canvasses, and now they don’t have to do that. In turn, I think homeowners and businesses are happy not having someone knocking on their doors for money.”
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff