BONNYVILLE – On May 8, high tea was served at the Seniors Drop-in Centre as a way to fundraise for new equipment at the Bonnyville hospital. The Community gathered in McGregor Hall where fine china and strawberry angel food cake awaited them.
Generous whipped cream and familiar faces made for a crowd humming with pleasantries. Dressed in their Sunday best, friends and families filled the hall with conversation, hugs and laughter.
Elsie Smith, 103, attended the Strawberry Tea with four generations of her family. Granddaughter Karla Foisy says they have been coming almost every year since her daughters were little. Great-granddaughters Taylor and Mackena Foisy, now young women, speak warmly of their family's annual tradition of gathering for Strawberry Tea.
Stories like these highlight the joys of community gatherings, and how important and appreciated all the efforts are. Volunteers bustled around with ornate tea pots and hot coffee, smiling and greeting everyone with warmth as they hustled to keep up with the flow of patrons.
The event was enjoyed by an ample turnout of people who came to raise money for the hospital.
Organizer Helen Wakulchyk says, “It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it.”
The money raised is put into a fund, and the Bonnyville Healthcare Centre can request what is needed to help patients at the hospital. Last year’s proceeds went toward purchasing a comfortable chair for the cancer clinic.
Raffle tickets were sold, and a table of donated prizes was displayed to choose where to drop tickets. Local art, hanging baskets, jewellery, a gift basket and more were donated to the raffle in yet another show of generosity from the community.
