Each year, Federated Co-op’s Fuel Good Day provides much needed funding for local organizations or provincial organizations that have an impact on Co-op communities. This year, the Humboldt Co-op donated its share to Creative Kids Saskatchewan. On September 20, ten cents from every litre of gasoline sold at the Humboldt Co-op went toward the Good Fuel Day effort. Creative Kids received a cheque for $2359.06.

“Creative Kids Saskatchewan provides opportunities for vulnerable children in our province to participate in arts and cultural activities,” explains Manager Gloria Walsh, who was on hand for the cheque presentation. “These are things like theatre, dance lessons, music lessons, art classes, and cultural activities like learning how to bead, dance a pow wow or learn a new language.”

Creative Kids operates on the fact that creative outlets are critical to the development of children and youth, and that cultural programming is of the utmost importance to healthy and vibrant communities. The non-profit works toward removing financial barriers for families so that all kids can partake in programming that’s important to them. 

Families can access the funding at one of three application deadlines throughout the year. Those application forms are available on the Creative Kids website. The organization generates revenue for disbursement through events like Fuel Good Day and corporate partners like Federated Co-op. Third party events and individual donors also make up the bulk of the financial support. Because the administrative costs of Creative Kids are covered by SaskCulture, every dollar raised in fundraising campaigns goes straight back into programming. 

“The Fuel Good Day - being chosen as a recipient is absolutely critical to maintaining our fundraising,” Walsh says. “We do depend on fundraising at the local level, so to be surprised with this gift from the Humboldt Co-op was absolutely amazing, and it will make changes in the lives of children in Humboldt and the surrounding area.  

Creative Kids’ mandate supports children throughout the province, but there’s no doubt that children have been assisted in the Humboldt area, confirms Walsh.

“Last year, Creative Kids supported ten kids in art, music and dance in Humboldt, as well as several more in Muenster and in nearby villages and towns with a total of $11,000.”

On hand for the cheque presentation were Joanne Spence, local music teacher, along with representatives from Impact and APlus dance studios. Children have also received funding for art activities through YJ Art Classes. 

“We want to thank the citizens of Humboldt and area for their very generous participation in the Fuel Good Day, and to the Humboldt Co-op for choosing Creative Kids for this year’s charity,” says Walsh. “We really appreciate it.”