The COVID-19 pandemic has made a big change in how the Rotary Club of Neepawa meets and operates, but it couldn’t hold back their biggest annual fundraiser. Where previously the event has been held live on television, the club made a pivot to an online auction format and found the community just as supportive as it has been in previous years. Businesses remained generous with their donations of auction items and bidders had no problem making the change from phones to clicks to make their bids.

Each year the club chooses a local project to be the primary recipient of the proceeds of the auction. Past recipients have included a new play structure at the elementary school, tables and chairs for the new daycare centre, and repairs to the local historic theatre. The only criteria to be a recipient of the funds is that the club collectively decides the project is timely and of value to the community.

This year the funds are being directed towards the new assisted living facility to help with furnishing the building. The recently completed facility opened its doors in November but is still in some ways a work in progress. The exercise room remains largely empty for now, but an accessible therapy tub has been recently installed and benches and decor have just this week been added to the main floor. Members of the Rotary Club were treated to a tour of the facility and a meal in the dining room following the cheque presentation so that they could get a first-hand look at what the funds were supporting.

In total, the Rotary Club made a donation of $15,000 to Kinsmen Kourts 2.