The Prince Rupert Senior Centre is more than 10 per cent closer to its goal of a new roof following a donation from the local quilting guild.
The Big Rain Quilters handed over $7,000 to the Seniors Centre on June 22. The majority of that, $6,000, came from the second annual Quilt Retreat held at the Highliner Hotel and Conference Centre in May.
“I’ve always wanted to do one and I said, ‘okay, we’re just doing it, I booked the hotel, girls’,” said Sarah Ridgway, quilter and owner of Rain Forest Fabrics “And they said, ‘okay,’ and everyone stepped up to help and this is a second time now and it’s a little bit smoother. And it’s fun.”
More than 70 quilters from all over region attended the event which was sponsored by numerous local businesses including Sullivan Mechanical who donated the grand prize, a $2,400 deluxe sewing machine.
Big Rain president Rita Daniele said they like to give the proceeds of the retreat back to the community.
“Last year the Ukrainian Society benefited and all the schools we gave for their food program,” she said. “And this year, we had heard about the roof and we thought, we use the centre a lot.”
Barry Cunningham, president of the Prince Rupert Seniors’ Centre Association said it is a very welcome addition to their fundraising efforts.
“It goes a long way towards the goal,” he said. “Coming off COVID, it’s been a tough struggle for the senior centre. But… we’ve got some donations, and this is a fantastic donation.”
The other $1,000 came from the local members of the Big Rain Quilters.
thom.barker@blackpress.ca
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