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Healing a focus at Catholic Family Services 26th annual charity dinner and auction

May 7, 2018 | 5:00 PM

Catholic Family Services of the Battlefords 26th annual charity dinner and auction had a focus on healing at this year’s event.

The fundraiser, with about 260 people in attendance, was held Saturday at the Tropical Inn in North Battleford. 

Funds raised from the event benefit the agency and support the programs it provides in the community.

Executive Director Karen Richard said it has been a difficult winter for the Battleford community following several youth suicides. The CFS was called upon to provide its services.

“Trauma is not new to our community, and the tragic loss of so many of our youth only underscores the need for the service we provide,” Richard said in her speech. “In response to these tragic events, our agency provided over 500 hours of support and counselling in our high schools and to other family and community members affected.”

During the fiscal year the local CFS provided services to over 3,000 individuals in the Battlefords and surrounding community.

Richard thanked local artist and sculptor Darwin Atcheynum for donating a soapstone carving called “Healing Hand” for the auction.

“We are a community in need of healing and Darwin, your beautiful sculpture is a hopeful testament to this healing,” Richard said. “This evening, let us all do what we can to lend a healing hand through Catholic Family Services, to the families we serve.”

Battlefords CFS president of the board of directors Connie Carignan said the CFS is well supported in the community.

She also alluded to the impact to the community and families from the youth who died by suicide this past winter.

Carignan said the agency helped support and counsel “a community in shock.”

“Many times I heard about the excellent professional and compassionate work our staff offered to grieving families, students and staff,” Carignan added of the agency’s work in the community.

The charity dinner and auction was the agency’s major fundraiser for the year.

“We do get funding from the government for certain programs that are run, so this helps with other programs we have to fund ourselves,” Carignan said.

Local businesses donated a variety of items for the auction, including a diamond ring and a West Jet trip. The Tropical Inn was the major sponsor for the event.  

Carignan said the local CFS had hoped to raise about $30,000 from the fundraiser event.

The CFS provides programs and services to people throughout the Battlefords and surrounding area.

“If they are in need they are helped,” the president said.

 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

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