By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

The Lending Cupboard secures $97,000 provincial grant

Aug 22, 2018 | 11:36 AM

Thanks to a grant announced this week, The Lending Cupboard is more than halfway to its fundraising goal of $500,000.
 
The organization, which provides medical equipment to central Albertans in their time of need, moved to the north end of the city earlier this summer. Demand had grown so substantially over the years to the point they outgrew their old home close to the hospital.
 
On Wednesday, Red Deer – North MLA Kim Schreiner was on hand to present a cheque from the Alberta Government’s Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) for $97,000.
 
“This organization is not only important to this community, but to all of central Alberta,” Schreiner said. “It’s something unique that they lend out equipment to anyone who needs it free of charge for the length of time they need it for. They had a vision and went through with it and have helped out thousands of central Albertans over the years.”
 
Schreiner, as well as Lending Cupboard Executive Director Dawna Morey praised the volunteers for their ongoing work and for achieving the relocation.
 
“The staff and volunteers pulled this together in amazing time,” Morey said. “When I left on the Saturday night when we got everything moved in, I thought there was no way we’d be open on Wednesday, but kudos to those people that stepped foward and made it happen.”
 
The Lending Cupboard averages 70 volunteers each month and saw 11,000 volunteer hours in 2017. In July, the organization processed 1,300 pieces of equipment and had 700 clients walk through the door.
 
The CFEP grant program provides financial assistance to acquire, build, purchase, repair, renovate, upgrade or expand sports, recreational, cultural or other related public-use community facilities, according to the Government of Alberta website.