It is National Volunteer week and northeastNOW is featuring community volunteers who go above and beyond all year round.
A number of years with the Canadian Armed Forces as well as volunteering as secondary duties has led Jim Graham to be the volunteer he is today.
The now president of the Melfort Legion said he has been a member for over 20 years before moving back to the Melfort area.
“I joined the year after my dad passed and he had been a member for many years having served in the Second World War,” Graham said. “It is nice to help out some of the people who spent years keeping the Legions mission alive.”
With being retired, Graham said it is very rewarding to use his extra time to give back.
“Nowadays, for every organization it is expensive to keep them going and so it takes a fair amount of effort to generate funding to keep them going,” Graham said.
The work within the Legion leads to other opportunities that Graham enjoys as well.
“We have been able to work so hand-in-hand with other organizations in the community like the Rotary Club, Kin, the Elks, supporting Telemiracle and Make-A-Wish,” Graham said.
Fortunately, the legion has a great facility that provides remembrance opportunities that can also be utilized by fellow community groups.
“The unlucky part is that we as the legion have to put a fair amount of effort into trying to maintain that and keep it open,” Graham said.
The poppy fund through the legion goes toward supporting veterans in the community, province and across the country. A great deal of effort also goes into supporting other causes that would support veterans and their descendant such as the North East Health Foundation, Parkland Place, and the Kidney Dialysis Unit in Tisdale.
Members also put in time with the schools to keep the cause alive and keeping people aware of what is needed and what goes on at the Legion.
Although it is a solemn time for members of the Legion, Graham said Remembrance Day is his favourite time of year with being able to really educate the public on veterans and the mission of the Legion.
Other highlights for Graham include being able to make facility improvements such as the recent fixing of the exterior lighting above the door as well as the front steps.
(Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW staff)The Legion, like many other groups has a had a quiet year with public health restrictions in place.
“Without being able to do rentals it hasn’t been easy,” Graham said. “I wouldn’t say we are thriving but we are certainly beyond surviving.”
A federal grant and local donations will get the bills paid up until the summer and then a 50/50 is in the works for the coming months to keep the facility maintained and running.
Updated flooring in the Corvette Room was on the wish list for them and the money had been raised for those renovations but things are looking low for that now too with not bringing any funds in over the last year.
The hope is to secure funds for the flooring within the next six months.
A special shout out this week from Graham goes out to the volunteers that would come help with wing nights and events that the legion puts on.
“A few hours here and a few hours there is always appreciated if you can only give a small amount of time,” Graham said.
Bob Ellis who was president for many years and still runs the poppy campaign as well as first vice John Wade and second vice Barkley Bessey, are also vital to the legion operations according to Graham.
Murray Wall is another volunteer that Graham wanted to recognize.
“He [Wall] has been so involved with the Elks Club and with us at the legion and with Make-A-Wish as well,” Graham said. “He is just one of those guys that can’t sit still and a lot of organization benefit from what he does.”
The Chase the Ace event was another benefit to the legion and Graham wanted to also thank Trent Fedorychka for all of his great work with that committee and with Kin over the years.
Anyone can get involved with the Legion, and don’t need to have been a veteran or have had family that served.
Doors to the Legion are typically open on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 3 p.m. or call Graham at 306-921-4212 for those interested in learning more about the Legion and what they do.
“[Volunteering] is a lot about your heart, giving back and supporting good causes and certainly for me that has been key to be able to return something to the community,” Graham said.
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angie.rolheiser@pattisonmedia.com
On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser
