Donors offer their support to campaign
We asked our readers to share their stories behind their donations to the Regina Leader-Post Christmas Cheer Fund.
Often, they are notes of gratitude and appreciation. For example, Bevan and Karen Sthamann of Regina wrote: “Your organization does fantastic work in our community. Without your great efforts many more people would suffer. Please accept our small token of gratitude for all of the good work you do. Please keep up the good work as many need your services.”
Another Regina reader, who preferred to remain anonymous, wrote: “I want to help as a way of saying thank you that I grew up in such a happy, loving home. My father had the gentlest hands and never hit me or any of our family. He was so loving and kind to my mother. He loved us all.”
An anonymous donor from Kipling wrote: “I wish you every success in the wonderful work you are doing and God bless you for it.”
Catherine Dermody of Regina wrote: “The Cheer Fund is a large part of my annual celebration of the season.”
The Cheer Fund campaign also provides an opportunity for women to share their stories of abuse. It allows their voice to be heard. Here is one such story:
“I am an 83-year-old woman, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and teacher. I have lived all my life in Saskatchewan. After 40 years of marriage, and many years of a loving home and family life, I found it necessary to use the services of the women’s shelters many years ago.”
Without your great efforts many more people would suffer. Please accept our small token of gratitude for all of the good work you do. BEVAN AND KAREN STHAMANN
The ravages of alcoholism and other addictions turned my partner — a loving spouse and father, as well as a successful business man and community leader — into an angry and threatening emotional abuser. I am most grateful for the help and for the protection I received at a local shelter.
“I tell my story only to remind others that it is impossible to know who will be the next person or family to need this safety net. Thank you for your past and continued support of this very necessary work. To save my children and grandchildren any stress or embarrassment, I ask that you publish this with a name change or anonymous.”