BIG 105 host Jodi Evans speaks with Richard Radu, Red Deer Kinsmen, and Dustin Moore, Outreach Centre, during the 'Day of Holiday Hope' radiothon at Pattison Media Red Deer on Nov. 15, 2024. (Josh Hall/ rdnewsNOW staff)

By Ian Gustafson

Holiday charity

Pattison Media raises $28,000 for The Outreach Centre during Day of Holiday Hope radiothon

Nov 16, 2024 | 11:43 AM

Red Deer and area did their part in helping those in need this holiday season.

On Friday approximately $28,000 was raised for the Red Deer Outreach Centre during the annual Day of Holiday Hope radiothon.

Central Albertans tuned into Pattison Media’s Big 105.5 and 106.7 Rewind Radio all-day long to raise funds and hear success stories from those who’ve utilized The Outreach Centre.

“PML strongly believes in supporting our community in every way we can. The Outreach Centre is well known in our community, with many Central Alberta Citizens having heard of them, however, most have no idea of how much they do for our community,” said Bryn James Pattison Media Red Deer General Manager.

“The Radioathon helps shine a spotlight on what they do and why they are such a vital part of our community. They facilitate hope where there is none. We are proud to be a small part of that.”

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Ian Wheeliker, executive director of The Outreach Centre in Red Deer, said Friday marked not only the start of the Day of Hope but also, the Adopt-a-Family campaign.

“What we like to do every year is partner with the Christmas Bureau and to provide holiday hope for low-income single-parent families,” he said.

The radiothon wrapped up at the end of the day on Friday but both campaigns at The Outreach Centre will continue up until Christmas.

Last year, they raised just under $100,000 with $98,000 of it going out to families in need. They plan to do the same this year.

Wheeliker said they’re now accepting applications until Dec. 20 for those who need help heading into the holidays.

Representatives of Red Deer Lions Club made a $2,500 donation to The Outreach Centre through the ‘Day of Holiday Hope’ radiothon at Pattison Media Red Deer on Nov. 15, 2024. (Josh Hall/ rdnewsNOW staff)

One of the biggest donations of the day came from the Red Deer Lions Club who donated $2,500 and Wheeliker said there are other organizations who’ve made commitments to donate, including MNP Red Deer, who will donate approximately $18,000.

Those hoping to donate can do so by visiting The Outreach Centre location at 4101 54th Avenue or on their website at theoutreachcentre.org.

“Thanks to you guys and the wonderful folks here on the radio, we’re about a third of the way there,” Wheeliker said.

“We’ve still got lots of time and today is especially fantastic because so many of our staff have got a chance to talk about the programs and services we offer to the community.”

The Outreach Centre provides services in four main areas including domestic violence, housing programs for the homeless, suicide education and prevention, and overall wellness and mental health.

Overall, they’ll help approximately 16,000-18,000 throughout their programs in Central Alberta every year.

“One of the areas I’ve been working on over the past number of months is in the non-market housing,” he added.

“We all know that affordable rent is very challenging and there’s not that much available or affordable. All the agencies we partner with were all saying the same we need housing that’s somewhere in the range of 50 to 60 per cent of what market rentals are going for.”

They’re looking to launch that program and are currently exploring ways to make that happen.

“The way we want to build it is not only putting a roof over peoples heads but also giving them a ladder out of poverty,” he said.

“The idea would be that the revenue we generate from being the landlords we want to put that money back into the families in two streams, education and home ownership.”