NEW GLASGOW – For more than 40 years, the Kinsmen have been helping Summer Street. On Monday, they continued their help with a $40,000 donation.
“These funds will go towards helping to keep the doors open,” said Summer Street executive director Bob Bennett. “It’s a huge donation for us.”
Summer Street helps to broaden the horizons of adults with intellectual disabilities. At the facility, they can work in the small business units, learn in the computer lab, paint, play music and answer phones.
“It’s our motto to serve the communities’ greatest need, and this is obviously it,” said Allan MacQuarrie, co-chair of the Kinsmen TV Bingo. “We make donations of $60,000 to other individuals, for things like wheelchairs, and to the food bank, but we want to continue showing our support to Summer Street.”
It was 42 years ago when the Kinsmen first showed their support for the organization when they provided a group of parents desperately trying to develop post-high school opportunities for their children with disabilities. Then called the Kinsmen Opportunity Centre, it eventually transformed into the present-day Summer Street, one of the most progressive organizations of its kind.
Over the years, the Kinsmen have donated in excess of $1 million in support of Summer Street.
“This money is mainly raised through our TV bingos, which run every Thursday at 6 p.m.,” MacQuarrie explained. “It’s because the community supports us and buys bingo cards that we can make this donation.”
