The Lampman Community Health Centre is looking a little more festive, thanks to the addition of some Christmas lights and other decorations.
Twyla Quantrill, who is a special care aid at the health centre, said she thought it would be nice to decorate the trees between the health centre and First Avenue in the town.
“We just wanted to put some lights in the trees, so that the residents could see lights,” she said.
But to add the lights, fundraising and donations would be needed. A soup and sandwich luncheon was held in November that attracted nearly 100 people. Quantrill phoned for donations of food, and people were more than willing to help her out.
“I had donations of bread, of cold cuts and everything,” said Quantrill.
Many people made contributions in memory of a loved one.
Anyone she approached was willing to make a contribution, whether it be through time or money, and every little bit helped. Businesses, service groups, individuals and the town’s school all came on board.
Several groups helped out with installing lights and decorations.
“We had two lifts and a picker truck, and all of their time and energy was donated,” said Quantrill.
The lights were installed on the trees in late November.
“The main purpose of the fundraiser was to put lights where there were no lights,” said Quantrill.
More than $4,000 worth of Christmas lights have been installed, thanks to 75 reels and 60 boxes of lights. One tree has 19 reels of lights and another tree has 17 reels.
Quantrill noted that there are three trees with multi-coloured strands of lights, and one tree with all pink lights. She would like to eventually have a tree with all blue lights, in honour of the concept of a blue Christmas, which is for those who are alone or grieving the loss of a loved one at Christmas time.
She would also like to see red and green trees, since those are the colours traditionally associated with Christmas.
Lights were also added to the courtyard, and to the new gazebo in the courtyard.
The health centre has also started to construct a nativity scene for the courtyard. It has already has Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus, as well as a shepherd, lamb, ox, donkey and angel. Other items will be added in future years.
“The school built a stable for the new nativity scene,” said Quantrill.
Approximately $2,000 has been spent on the nativity scene thus far.
A 14-foot Santa Claus is also among the decorations, and angels will eventually be added.
Quantrill is impressed with how the decorating campaign turned out. Some of the residents who don’t leave their homes very often have been checking out the progress on the decorations.
“They were very involved in what we were doing,” said Quantrill. “One of the residents wanted to make a tree inside as a thank you with decorated balls, just for people who made donations, and it’s huge.”
The residents are amazed with how it turned out, and Quantrill said that’s what gives her the most satisfaction.
Quantrill said the health centre will continue to accept donations, and if possible, she would like to see more decorations added this year.
Plaques have been made to recognize donors. A tax receipt can also be issued to those who support the project.
Lampman is a great community, she said, and so she knew the decorating campaign would be well supported, and the health centre would be able to purchase decorations.
The response has been overwhelming, she said, and everyone pulled together to help out with the initiative.
