Sitting down to a computer for the first time wasn’t a comfortable experience for Calgary senior Gloria Zakaria.
“I was terrified,” she joked. “I thought it was going to blow up.”
Well, now she’s part of something that’s “blowing up” online: a “GoFundMe” campaign to save recreational programs at the Silver Threads seniors club in Calgary’s Inglewood neighbourhood.
Exercise classes, barbecues and other social activities are threatened by a recent cut in the funding the club gets from the Alberta government.
The seniors understand that times are tough. “It’s something we’ve got to live through,” Zakaria said.
Their traditional fund-raising efforts like selling baking and crafts wouldn’t cover the costs of continuing the club’s programs, so they launched the “GoFundMe” campaign in mid-August.
“Our target is $50,000,” Silver Threads manager Wendy Myshyniuk said. “That’ll keep us going for another four or five years.”
“Every little bit helps – every five dollar bill out there, that somebody has burning a hole in their pocket helps,” Myshyniuk added.
“We really need help for our club,” member Phyllis Richardson said.
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