Thanks to you $2-million has been raised since 2004/2005 through Dryden Rotary Radio Bingo on CKDR.
The club hit $1 million in 2014 and this new milestone was reached in about half that time.
Roger Gould says a number of local organizations have benefited as a result.
Major donations since 2004 include:
-Christmas Cheer including Dryden, Ignace, Ear Falls and Red Lake: $113,500
-Entertainment Series (Dryden and Red Lake): $71,034
-Dryden Food Bank: $122,500
-Scholarships including Dryden, Ignace and Red Lake: $127,500
-Dryden Regional Health Centre: $362,500
-Red Lake Margaret Cochenour Memorial Hospital: $85,850
-Meno Ya Win Health Centre in Sioux Lookout: $34,816
-Mary Berglund Health Centre in Ignace: $21,500
-Second Chance Pet Network: $19,450
-Tamarac House: $81,000
Sioux Lookout receives an amount proportionate to their annual card sales which they distribute based on the decision of their Rotary Club but based on Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario rules.
Some of their main charities receiving donations are the Sioux Lookout Out of the Cold program and books and a breakfast program for the Sioux North High School.
Roger Gould says even a shortened season didn’t slow them down.
“No matter what. We still had 21,015 cards sold this past year. Last year was 26,179 cards sold. So with everything that has happened with COVID we still did pretty good. Unfortunately we weren’t there for the people though.”
Normally there are 26 games a season and Rotary was able to host 21 games this season.
In ten years, card sales have gradually increased by over 7,000 per year.
Joanne Kusnick initiated Rotary Radio Bingo and she talks about they wanted to offer the service.
“We are good people who want to do good things for our communities and really for the world. If Rotary could help with this pandemic, we would be the first people up to bat to say what can we do. Rotary is all about giving back and helping your fellow man.”
Kusnick says they couldn’t reach the $2-million achievement without the ongoing support of vendors and all of those across the region who play.
“We’ve increased the players by ten-fold from 2004 until now. Everybody is supporting us because they see what we give back and how much we’ve achieved in helping our communities.”
Kusnick and Gould say the Rotary Club is anxious to once again offer Bingo every Thursday this Fall.
It requires at least 370 volunteer hours a season.
To hear more from Roger Gould and Joanne Kusnick, visit the Audio link below.
A reminder from Domtar regarding a bridge closure….
The Wenasaga bridge at kilometer 4 has been closed for repair. It is scheduled to reopen on Thursday, November 7th.
The closure begins at the South Bay-Wenasaga Road junction.
The bridge is inaccessible in both directions as of yesterday (Oct. 30).
Please use the South Bay and Ben road systems as an alternate route during the Wenasaga bridge closure.
For more info, call 355-6867
The Dryden area, including Vermilion Bay, Wabigoon and Ignace, is under a ‘Special Weather Statement’ from Environment Canada.
In a word – ‘rain.’
Environment Canada expects us to receive significant rainfall possible tonight into Friday.
Rain is expected to spread over Northwestern Ontario this evening. Rain, at times heavy, will continue through tonight before gradually tapering to scattered showers late Friday.
Total rainfall amounts of 30 to 50 mm are expected by midday Friday. Locally higher amounts are also possible however there remains some uncertainty regarding these higher amounts.
At 4 PM (Thursday) doppler radar at ckdr.net is showing a large system of rain stretching from Sioux Narrows almost to Atikokan that is moving to the Northeast and directly toward Dryden.
A Weekend-Long Extreme Heat Warning has been expanded to include virtually our entire area.
Sioux Lookout/Hudson and Ignace have been added to Dryden/Vermilion Bay, Red Lake/Balmertown, Ear Falls/Perrault Falls, Kenora and Fort Frances – all covered by a sweltering heat warning.
Hot and humid conditions are expected Friday through to Sunday.
Maximum temperatures near 29 degrees are expected with the Humidex making it feel like the mid-30’s. Nightime lows of 18 degrees will little relief from the heat. A low pressure system is expected to bring a cooler airmass to the area Sunday night into Monday.
Heat warnings are issued when very high temperature or humidity conditions are expected to pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
Please remember to drink lots of water, be sure the kids are hydrated and wearing hats and don’t leave kids or pets unattended in a vehicle.
As yet, no warning about unsettled thunderstorms have been issued for the weekend.
CKDR.NET covers local forecasts and weather alerts for all communities between Thunder Bay and Winnipeg, as well as a direct link to Dryde Doppler Radar and a LiveTime Lightning display.
