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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Anavets women love catering for camp cash

By: Jenny Ford

Posted: 08/4/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Elvia Furutani and Beryl Torgasows enjoy helping to raise thousands of dollars for charities every year through catering, including $2,000 to the Sunshine Fund so far this year.

Every Saturday, Beryl Torgasows clips out the Sunshine Fund articles to show her fellow members at the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans Ladies Auxiliary.

"I take them to our next meeting and say, 'See, these kids are now going to camp because of us,'" she said. "It's always nice to see a happy little face."

Over the last 15 years, their unit has donated more than $20,000 to the Sunshine Fund so Manitoba children can go to camp despite their parents' financial situation. Torgasows, 72, is president of the Anavets Ladies Provincial Command for Manitoba and Northwest Ontario and a member of the local ladies auxiliary.

"It's a way to give back to the children and give them that opportunity," said Torgasows. "We can make them believe that people care."

This year, the Anavets Ladies Auxiliary Unit 283 Assiniboia has donated $2,000 to the Sunshine Fund, said Elvia Furutani, president of the local unit.

"We're very happy, very pleased (with the donation amount)," said the 77-year-old. "Parents can't afford to take the kids on holidays... otherwise they'd be on the streets."

The group of women, 14 in total, raise around $18,000 a year for a long list of charities by catering banquets, anniversaries, funerals and business luncheons.

"We do a lot of catering and clean a lot of dirty dishes," Furutani said with a smile. "There's so many pots and pans."

It's hard work that's paid off, Furutani and Torgasows said. Both have been involved in Anavets for more than two decades and have the medals to prove their commitment to the community, now lining their blue Anavets blazers.

Despite the many charities they support, including the Cheer Board and Siloam Mission, the Sunshine Fund has been their priority charity, they said.

"Many children are in single-parent homes," said Torgasows. "Money is short and kids don't get the opportunity to go away as they used to."

Camp also plays an important role in getting kids active and teaching them how to work with other people, said Furutani.

"It builds fellowship for them and they learn about leadership," she said.

However, with the auxiliary's membership dwindling, they said they need more members to help keep the flow of donations going to the Sunshine Fund and the countless other charities the unit supports. Regardless, this hasn't dampened Torgasows' and Furutani's spirit.

"We bring children into this world," said Furutani. "It's up to us to look after them."

To donate to the Sunshine Fund, send cheques to the Winnipeg Free Press Sunshine Fund c/o 302-960 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R3T 0R4.

You can also donate in person or online by going to www.mbcamping.ca and following the CanadaHelps donation link. For more information on the Sunshine Fund, call 204-784-1130 or email sunshinefund@mbcamping.ca

Donations as of Aug. 3

Mr. W. Thompson and Willa R. Fleming - $100

Charles Mastin - $25

Linda Tallin - $200

Carol and Don Poulin - $100

Anonymous - $25

D. E. Morrison - $100

Ray and Judith Vasas - $50 in memory of Amber Mary Vasas, our daughter

Jan Cavers - $100 in memory of Bruce Barr

Town of Teulon - $100

Bob and Verna Wiebe - $35

Roger Newman - $100

Maxwell Family - $100

Piston Ring Service - $4,000

Gladys Comeault - $100, in memory of Liz Loewen Genest

Georgette Snead - $25

Anonymous - $100

Bert and Linda Smith - $350

Marlene Jones - $40

Doreen E. Slot - $25 In memory of my husband, Johan (Jan) Slot

Carol Panaro - $30

Anne Durcan - $100 in memory of Jim Durcan

Lorne Ashdown - $300

Marilyn and Donald Hargot - $50 to honour the 50th anniversary of Ted and Joan Waytowich

Sherman and Karen Elliott - $50

Randy and Marta Allison - $100

Anonymous - $50 in memory of Crystal Spletzer

Irene Zapisocki - $75

Anonymous - $200

Staff of BeeMaid Honey and Manitoba Cooperative Honey Producers - $235

Donations this week: $6,865

Campers placed: 730

Campers waiting: 11

Donations to date: $192,824.59

Campership cost: $261,591.35

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 4, 2012 B3

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