Sarnia donates $50,000 to Branch 216’s accessibility project

Heather Wright/The Independent

Robert White says the money couldn’t have come at a better time.

The Petrolia Legion has received a big boost to its accessibility project. The Sarnia Legion has donated $50,000 to Branch 263 upgrades to their Petrolia building Monday night. It was part of a $506,000 give away by the Sarnia branch after raising $2.1 million in its latest Catch the Ace Lottery.

The President of the Petrolia Legion, Robert White is thrilled. “We did not have enough to finish what we’d started already and what we’d already ordered. And some of that is thanks to Mr. Trump and his lovely tariffs on steel,” he said noting the tariffs on steel made the elevator platform lift more costly.

The Petrolia Legion has been working on accessibility at the branch for two years now. Recently, work crews rebuilt the entry in preparation for the platform lift which will allow people in wheelchairs access to both floors easily. With the Sarnia Legion donation, White says work can now be complete, with some left over to make the doors to the women’s washrooms accessible.

White says he’s “thrilled and quite overjoyed” by the Sarnia Legion donation but says the Petrolia community has also provided $100,000 for the project.

The $50,000 donation to the Petrolia project was the largest donation the Sarnia branch handed out.

It also provided $20,000 to Bluewater Health Foundation, Rebound – The Hub, Community Living Sarnia Lambton, River City Vineyard, Habitat for Humanity, the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund – which provides defibrillators to public buildings – Forest Fritters Friends, Rebound’s program Pedals for Purpose, the Sarnia Lambton Ontario Health Team, the Y, Sarnia Minor Athletic Association, and the Bluewater Cycling Club.

Huron House Boys home received $16,000 from the Sarnia Legion and the Sarnia Historical Society received $15,000.

Talk 2 Me Johnny – a family charity raising awareness about suicide and mental health for former military members – was among 17 organizations which received $10,000 for their work as did, the Sarnia District Humane Society, St. Joseph’s Hospice, The Salvation Army, The Inn of the Good Shepherd, St. Vincent de Paul, Pathways Health Centre, the Women’s Interval Home, Noelle’s Gift, Literacy Lambton, the Down Syndrome Association, That girl’s got Moxie – a cancer support charity – Sarnia Organ Donor Awareness, the Veterans Homeless Fund, the Legion’s Pipe Band, Crime Stoppers, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Three animal charities, Lambton Cat Rescue, Bluewater Centre for Raptor Rehabilitation and Heaven’s Wildlife Rescue received $5,000.

Les Jones, the president of the Sarnia Legion, said the donations were made possible because Legion volunteers stepped up to help with the fundraiser and the support of the community

“We are overwhelmed by the generosity and spirit of this community,” Jones said in a news release. “Every ticket purchased helped us reach this goal. Thank you for showing up, for believing in what we do, and for helping us give back in such a meaningful way.”