“Sporting Christmas is an annual donation I wait for each year.”
One of Saskatoon’s great breakfasts happens once a year, at the Sierras of Erindale seniors condo.
It’s a breakfast I write about every year in these pages, because the purpose of that gathering is to raise money for our Sporting Christmas campaign. And they’re awfully good at it.
This year’s all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast was held Nov. 30, and it came with its usual big dollop of generosity.
“Approximately 150 Sierra residents, family and friends came out for the breakfast and raised $9,528.00, for the less fortunate here in Saskatoon,” Gary Mamer tells us in a note.
“THANK YOU Santa’s Elves (volunteers) and Sierra residents and friends and family who opened their hearts and cheque books to make this Christmas brighter for Saskatoon’s children and seniors, for who poverty is standing in the way of a happier Christmas. Sierras of Erindale is a caring condo community of 243 residents, and we commend the StarPhoenix Sporting Christmas campaign and support our Salvation Army.”
Another very large donation comes our way today from an anonymous person who gives each year “in memory of my brother” and we sure do appreciate it.
Saskatoon’s hockey players are always there for us, and that’s very true for the 60-Plus Hockey B-Line summer players, who had money left over and thought immediately of Sporting Christmas.
“Left over from summer hockey fees,” Jerry Demeria tells us. “Glad to be able to help.”
Corrine Weiman, a longtime Sporting Christmas friend, remembers a particularly good sport every year.
“Sporting Christmas is an annual donation I wait for each year,” Corrine writes. “I do this in memory of our dear grandson, Michael Manderscheid. Michael loved playing sledge hockey each winter and welcoming any new player that would like to try it out.”
Joyce Hayes donates “In memory of my husband, Lyle, and to honour my grandchildren, Graysen and Maelle, who said: Sport gives us the opportunity to have fun, stay healthy and fit. It involves teamwork, which builds relationships and enhances leadership skills.”
The Saini family has donated for many years, starting when their kids were wee little. And that tradition continues.
“The Saini Family donation this year comes with a message of gratitude for our blessings,” Satwant Saini tells us. “We appreciate the efforts of the Salvation Army in addressing and reaching those that need a helping hand.”
We’ve nearly tripled our total from earlier this week, skipping over both the $20,000 and $30,000 marks, and there’s plenty of time left to send a gift.
You can also drop your gift off at the Salvation Army (38 Bateman Crescent), and please make sure to mark it as a Sporting Christmas donation.
The postal strike has removed one previously-reliable way to donate, but the others work very well and we’re grateful to everybody whose contribution is shown in today’s list.
Thanks to today’s Santas:
Lanny Price: $50
Loving memory of Margaret Gable, Pekka Erkkila, Helen Schooler and Tapani Erkkila from Sylva Jurney: $200
Loving memory of Clarence and Eunice Gronsdal from Murray and Diane Gronsdal: $100
In honour and memory of a great sportsman and friend, Dr. Klaas Post, from Chuck and Anita Rhodes: $200
Cheers for Chad, Tammie and Mike! From Terry McBride: $100
Loving memory of our parents Ken and Bunee Rowley and Marge and Jules Michasiw from Rick and Bonnie Rowley: $100
Memory of Bill Wist, Peter Clark and Bud Besse from Don and Terry Moonie: $200
Memory of my dear wife, Joyce Tremmel, and my dear granddaughter, Madison Jocelyn. You are dearly missed every day, from Enns and Associates Therapists and Trainers: $500
Memory of my brother: $6,355
Susan Rogers: $50
Ken Archer: $100
Wayne and Colleen Guenther: $300
Cathy and Brian Langdon: $500
Memory of our dear grandson Michael Manderscheid, from Corrine Weiman: $50
Dr. Brian and Christine Skulski: $20
Memory of my sister Sandra from Lynn Adamson: $100
Kathy Grant: $100
Anonymous: $200
60-Plus Hockey B Line summer hockey players: $500
Memory of my mom and dad, from Gary Heasman: $100
Linda Gibson: $100
Saini Family: $202
Memory of my husband, Lyle, and to honour my grandchildren Graysen and Maelle, from Joyce Hayes: $200
Memory of Hal Lackie from Jamie Lackie: $100
Sierras of Erindale Seniors Condo pancake and sausage breakfast: $9,528
Today’s total: $19,955
TOTAL TO DATE: $31,433.58
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