Letter to the Editor

A Sioux Lookout Community Help Fund

During our recent fundraiser for three of our citizens with cancer it became very apparent that there are several citizens of Sioux Lookout and surrounding area that could use some financial assistance at times. The assistance that seems to be most prevalent is being able to come up with money for transportation, accommodation or meals to Winnipeg or Thunder Bay for medical assessment, or for prescriptions that are not covered by health plans.

After much discussion a group of Sioux Lookout residents have come up with the idea of a Sioux Lookout Community Help Fund. This fund hopefully could be used to give financial assistance to anyone that could not come up with immediate funding for some medical or other emergency. We are currently working on a board of directors, as well as to try to get this fund a tax-free deduction. Several people have commented that they are approached yearly by several organizations for a donation, but when they check them out, there is either none or very little of that money that stays in Sioux Lookout. All of these people would rather have the money stay in Sioux Lookout to help our own, and have offered to support this Fund. 

Most costs for medical care are covered by OHIP and in the case of travel to Thunder Bay or Winnipeg, by a Northern Ontario Travel Grant. Unfortunately, this grant takes, on average, five weeks to be returned to the patient. With the Community Help Fund the money could be advanced to the patient immediately and be repaid to the fund either by the government or the patient. It is hoped that we will be able to set up this fund within the next few week. If there are any questions, concerns etc. about this new Funding option please call me. (737-0477). 

Dennis Leney