While league games are temporarily on hold as a result of public health restrictions due to the COVID-10 pandemic, minor sports organizations are doing their utmost to keep youngsters active.
And a local charity that provides funding to assist families enroll their kids in minor sports is feeling the pinch.
Both the Warman and Martensville KidSport organizations are in need of donations to reach their annual fundraising target of $20,000 each. In past years, fundraising projects such as the KidSport Playhouse raffle helped replenish the organizations’ bank accounts, but this year those projects weren’t able to take place due to the pandemic.
Both the Martensville and Warman KidSport charities each have about $4,000 in their kitties, well shy of what they need to fund a growing number of applications from area families.
“We had a last minute donation recently from the Martensville and District Kinsmen Club of about $4750,” said Martensville KidSport Coordinator Angie Reddekopp in an interview November 30. “That was a huge help, because our bank account was pretty much empty.
“Over the past year we funded 47 people, which was similar to the year before, but the amount of money we were able to provide to each was a lot less.”
It was the same story for the Warman KidSport charity, according to Coralie Bueckert, coordinator of the organization.
“We’re pretty much in the same boat,” said Bueckert in an interview. “We still have enough to tide us over, but we’re concerned going into next year because we won’t be able to allocate as much to needy families if we don’t meet our target.”
The KidSport Playhouse raffle won’t happen this year. Normally constructed by Grade 12 students at Martensville High School, the project is still unfinished because of COVID-19 restrictions at the school.
“It’s a shame the raffle won’t take place,” said Martensville A&W Restaurant owner Brian Buffin. “It’s a good project that has contributed a lot of funds to KidSport over the years.”
To help bridge the funding gap, the Martensville A&W is holding a special KidSport promotion this weekend. For every Teen Burger sold during Friday, December 4, Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 7, the restaurant is donating $2 from each sale to the Martensville and Warman KidSport charities.
Buffin said he’s hopeful that other area businesses will also implement similar promotions to help out KidSport.
“With the pandemic, everybody’s hurting, but we have to think of the kids,” said Buffin. “Physical activity and mental health is really important. If business people get creative, we can come up with ways of helping out.”
Bueckert said in Warman, two businesses, Clothing Obsession and Atlas Outdoor Cycle and Recreation, are donating 10 per cent of store gift card sales to KidSport. She said over the course of previous years, the OK Tire in Warman has also helped by providing buses to transport sports teams in exchange for donations to KidSport.
During December, KidSport Saskatchewan has a province-wide campaign underway called “Gift of Sport,” in which donations over $25 to local KidSport organizations are eligible for a tax-deductible receipt. Donations can be made to the Martensville KidSport by contacting Angie Reddekopp at the Martensville Athletic Pavilion (MAP) or through the provincial KidSport website. Donations to the Warman KidSport charity can be made by contacting Coralie Bueckert at the Warman Legends Centre or through the KidSport website.