Highway to Healing held its annual general meeting on January 29. From left to right are Gail Barriskill, Joan McCaughey, Cindy Gosling, Riley Martin, Ernie Dumais, Tanya Martin, and Shelley Bolingbroke. Banner child is Lynnea Holmstrom.
Helping families with sick children is a mandate that directors of Highway to Healing embrace.
That was evident in the work they did last year, as outlined in the president’s report on January 29 at the annual general meeting.
“The board of directors have worked purposely for the benefit of Highway to Healing Support Society,” said Ernie Dumais. “Their work has been appreciated by everyone concerned.”
The society offers financial assistance to local families who need to travel to access medical treatment for their children.
Dumais reported that the Oliver charity assisted five families in 2014, and is ready to help others in need.
“By helping these families we have alleviated some of the stress associated when they have a sick child,” he noted.
All of the children involved last year needed care at BC Children’s Hospital in Richmond.
Dumais said the society could not have assisted these families without the generous support of the Oliver community.
Last year individuals, service clubs and corporations donated more than $15,200 to the charity, compared to approximately $10,700 in 2013. The total to date is nearly $26,000.
A recent donation brought tears to the eyes of Dumais, who was overwhelmed when five-year-old Vienna von Burg celebrated her birthday by requesting her friends donate to the society rather than bring gifts.
“Third-party fundraising is always welcome, and this one was most special.”
Highway to Healing (H2H) received funding from the South Okanagan Similkameen Community Foundation, and a grant from Telus for every person who subscribed to their service (and identified H2H as their charity of choice).
Dumais said they gained considerable awareness when they partnered in presenting the Michael Burgess concert last year.
In 2014 directors worked on a number of projects, including the “Friends of Families” document. Drafts were prepared by director Riley Martin and reviewed by volunteers Shawna Michaud and Leona Baptiste. Dumais said this document will be a useful set of guidelines for governing the society.
Last year the society also designed rack cards for distribution at doctors’ offices and the hospital nurses’ station in Penticton. In addition, the society purchased T-shirts and wine glasses (with the H2H logo on them) for resale.
Dumais thanked Bob Currie for taking care of the society’s money matters, Martin for his work on policy and procedures, Shelley Bolingbroke for preparing the minutes, Tanya Martin for fundraising, and Joan McCaughey for her work on developing policy statements and information pamphlet.
Dumais also thanked Janice and Larry Stevens for their work in secretarial duties and insurance coverage for directors.
“I cannot thank Bob Currie enough for his part in getting H2H started,” Dumais said.
He reiterated that the society is there for families who need to travel out of the area for medical care.
“Helping families get there is our motto.”
