Last Thursday’s Building for Tomorrow fundraising dinner at Winkler Mennonite Church met its goals of bringing together the community and raising money for Phase II of the Cottonwood Residents Room Renovation project at Salem Home. The event was organized by Salem Foundation and the Salem Ladies Auxiliary.

According to organizers about $31,000 was brought in, with around 215 attending the evening.

“The Building for Tomorrow dinner was a success,” stated a release from organizers shared with PembinaValleyOnline. “The meal was excellent, thanks to Annajo’s Bistro catering,” noted the release. “Wilma Derksen, the speaker for the evening, was engaging and challenged all to be more forgiving. Thanks to the help of many, we will remember a beautiful evening, delicious food and an amazing speaker. It was amazing to get together again.”

Adding to the success of the evening was news of an anonymous donation to cover the expenses for the dinner, which now means everyone who purchased tickets will receive full receipting for their donation.

Cottonwood resident rooms are original to 1972. The cost of renovation is anticipated to be $1.5 million.  Each room will cost approximately $25,000 including bed, lifts, draperies, comforters, wayfinding door and lights. Phase II of this project includes 19 rooms.

“We are so blessed to be in a community that is so supportive of what the Foundation does, and is willing to be a participant in Salem Home’s journey toward making lives better for our residents,” noted the statement.