The Flin Flon Salvation Army will soon be installing a lift for churchgoers, aided by a provincial grant.
The provincial government announced funding for the project, along with 224 other community development projects, on Aug. 16.
In all, around $3.7 million in grants were announced, including $37,918 for the lift.
Major Debbie Allen said the lift will be installed and functional by the end of February 2019 and will allow elderly people or those with mobility issues to access the church’s basement.
There are 19 steps leading from the main door of the church to the basement. For people who have trouble climbing up or down stairs, those 19 steps may make the difference in whether or not people attend events at the church.
“I did a funeral service for one of the residents across the street, and most of the residents couldn’t come to the tea afterward because it would be in our basement. We had to find another location for the tea so the residents could come. It should address that,” said Allen.
“It will also assist us with our Christmas hamper program, because we use the basement for the distribution. Having a lift would greatly assist with that for people.”
In order to receive funds through the grant program, Allen reached out to the Prairie Division office of the Salvation Army, based in Winnipeg. The office wrote up a grant proposal and submitted it to the municipal relations ministry.
“They noted that our building is definitely not accessible and it’s important to have your facilities accessible to everyone,” said Allen.
Allen said the lift is part of an increased push to make the church more accessible, adding a wheelchair ramp at the site was replaced last year.
She hopes that adding a lift will enable the church to hold more events for seniors and people with disabilities.
“A lift will be much better for people in a wheelchair or anybody with mobility issues that would like to access our basement,” said Allen.
“For next year, all of our accessibility issues should be addressed. I’m hoping to start some seniors’ programming, and that is contingent on having access to the basement.”
Most of the programming money distributed through the grant was given to communities in southern Manitoba.
The Kelsey Planning District, which includes the RM of Kelsey, the Hamlet of Wanless and the LUD of Cranberry Portage, received $70,225.90 for a review of five bylaws, including a development plan.
In Snow Lake, the Centre on Family Violence received money for two projects – $13,059 for re-siding a building and $15,000 for what was described as “emergency short-term operating funds.”
