ESTLOCK — The president of the Golden Age Senior Citizen’s Drop-in Centre, Elda Strome, has been recognized for her contributions to the facility and local seniors with an award through the Alberta Blue Cross’ new Community Wellbeing program.
The award came with $1,000 for Elda herself and a separate $1,000 grant for the drop-in centre. However, Elda has donated the full sum to the non-profit organization, "just because it was the right thing to do,” she said.
In celebration of its 75th anniversary, Alberta Blue Cross announced earlier this fall that they would award 75 exceptional volunteers throughout the province $1,000 each in recognition of their contributions to promoting community wellbeing.
An additional $1,000 would also be given to a charitable or non-profit organization with which these 75 individuals volunteer.
As noted on the Alberta Blue Cross’ website, the objective of this program was to “celebrate our legacy of giving back to the communities we serve.”
In her nominating Elda for the award, drop-in centre director Karen Bouman wrote that Elda has served as president of the organization from 2006 to 2015 and from 2017 to the present.
“Elda is always thinking about the seniors in Westlock and is very committed to their physical, mental and social wellbeing,” Bouman wrote, noting that she is instrumental in organizing monthly lunches and pie socials that are open for anyone in the community to attend.
Notably, Elda was instrumental in raising the necessary funds for the construction of a new roof after the old one collapsed in 2017.
“She worked hard to find the money needed and the contractors that would be able to totally rebuild a large portion of the centre so that Westlock would continue to have a place for seniors to gather and socialize,” Bouman wrote.
Bouman added that Elda also kept in touch with the drop-in centre’s membership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and worked with health authorities to allow the facility to re-open.
“We were kind of lucky we had some savings to keep open with, because the utility bills are getting bigger and crazier,” Elda said.
On a final note, Bouman noted Elda is also an active member of Alberta Floor Curling and serves on the provincial executive.
Elda said she was “really honoured” to receive the award, noting that she had promised to donate her prize money to the club when nominated.
Incidentally, the drop-in centre has now returned to weekly program that includes cribbage on Mondays, bridge on Tuesdays, floor curling on Wednesdays and cards on Thursdays.
They are also hosting a pie social on the second Tuesday of each month and a noon luncheon on the last Wednesday. Anyone can attend that luncheon and enjoy coffee, sandwiches and dessert for $10.
