Since its plea for help last month, the Jasper Seniors Society has received a number of donations to ensure the seniors bus stays on the road.
On Dec. 5, the society accepted a $2,000 joint cheque from the Jasper Hockey League’s Whistle Stop Bongs and the Jasper Hospitality Auction (formerly the Bellmen’s Auction). The donation, which was evenly split between the two organizations, was made in memory of former seniors society president, Mary Hilworth, who passed away in July.
According to Glenda Cornforth, the current society president, many of the recent donations have been in Hilworth’s honour, whether they’re from individuals or community organizations.
The funds will help the seniors society when it applies for a provincial matching grant—if the grant is awarded, the province will match the funds the society has raised in the community.
In November, the seniors society announced that it would soon run out of funds to operate the seniors bus, as its reserve funds—which have kept the bus on the road for the past few years—are running low.
The bus has been operating in Jasper since 1994. Each Friday it brings seniors to town to run errands and visit the doctor, and once a month it takes them to Hinton for medical appointments. Prior to 2010, it received provincial funding for its operational costs. But that year the funding was cut and the municipality stepped in, covering the cost to ensure the service would continue for the year.
Then in 2011, the seniors society received a one-time provincial grant. Since then, it has been on the shoulders of the society to come up with the funds to ensure Jasper’s seniors have safe transportation to and from town. After a few years dipping into the society’s reserves, the fund is now running out of money.
In its plea last month, the society asked that the community pitch in, either by offering donations or by taking over the operation of the bus all together.
To keep the donations flowing in, the society’s treasurer, Bob Worssold, said he’s hoping to elicit the help of the town’s “emerging seniors” to hold some fundraisers in the new year.
In the meantime, seniors interested in using the bus are encouraged to call 780-852-3447.
Nicole Veerman
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