After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Blue Sky Opportunities (BSO) was finally able to once again host their annual fundraising banquet last week.
A sold-out crowd of 270 guests filled the Rhineland Pioneer Centre Nov. 9 to show their support, enjoy a night of great food and entertainment, and get an update on the progress of the non-profit organization, which works with adults with intellectual disabilities.
General manager Ryan Potter expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support they receive from individuals and corporate donors.
“It’s so amazing to see all the support we get from the community. We could not do any of this without you.”
During the banquet, the BSO board announced its next ambitious fundraising campaign: a $170,000 push to purchase a fully-accessible, 10-passenger van.
“This vehicle will enable us to continue to provide safe and reliable transportation to those supported at the day program to get people to work in the mornings and afternoons, and as well as for evenings and weekends for our residential and supported independent living clients,” Potter explained. “It’s going to give them transportation to go out shopping or out for dinner, or bowling or to the movies, or to events and activities that we’re not always able to do.”
BSO currently supports about 80 clients who participate in a variety of activities.
“We’re picking up clients anywhere from Emerson, Morris, Winkler, and Morden, from Monday to Friday to come to the day program,” said Potter, noting Blue Sky’s current vehicles aren’t great for highway driving in the winter. “It’s a big area, so safety is paramount.”
The vehicle project gained traction as the Altona Community Foundation declared a commitment of $21,500 towards it.
“We’re very grateful to the foundation for this generous grant,” Potter said. “This, along with the roughly $30,000 we raised from the banquet, will certainly be a good start for this campaign.”
Potter also shed light on the organization’s progress over the last few years, citing renovations and real estate changes, including the sale of an aged residence and the acquisition of two new homes. BSO currently owns eight residences.
“We’ve renovated kitchens and bathrooms in a couple of them to make them more accessible, but mainly it’s involved paint and new flooring.”
He also highlighted the long-awaited provincial government’s investment of $104 million to support disability services and increase wages for service providers and provide them with a living wage.
While Potter acknowledged the positive impact of this increase on Blue Sky’s 140 staff, he emphasized the need for continued advocacy to address minimum wage disparities and the absence of cost-of-living adjustments since 2011.
“It’s a step in the right direction, but there’s still work to be done,” he said. “This will also help us to retain employees. Change in staff is challenging for clients, especially in residential homes.”
Meanwhile, the organization’s services such as the Front Shop, Opportunities Program, Life Skills program, and Supported Employment program all continue to thrive, along with commercial services such as the wood shop and service shop, which provide combine chain assembly and town wide recycling.
Along with the banquet, Potter said the annual cleanathon held in conjunction with West Park School is still one of their biggest fundraisers, raising $32,000 last year.
“We’re incredibly grateful to all our corporate sponsors and public supporters who have stood behind us all these years,” Potter said, noting next year Blue Sky Opportunities will be celebrating 70 years in the community.
