A new fund in support of seniors has been established by the Dauphin and District Community Foundation (DDCF) to handle donations coming in the wake of the June 15 crash which killed 16 members of the area community.

The Support Our Seniors fund will provide funding to programming, equipment and activities that support seniors, through the traditional community foundation model.

The fund was established on the advice of officials of Humboldt, Sask., who indicated their community was ill prepaid to handle donations following the 2018 accident which killed 16 members of the Humboldt Broncos Jr. A hockey team.

The new fund is not meant to compete with the wishes of the victims and their families when it comes to directing donations, but rather it is an option for those wanting to do something for the community, said DDCF board member Martijn van Luijn.

“If somebody wants to donate to a particular family member, absolutely just donate to that family member,” he said.

van Luijn said there have already been corporate inquiries about where to direct donations to community at large with Wawanesa Insurance being the first, pledging $50,000.

“We said that’s awesome, but hang on, let’s get organized first,” he said, adding the foundation’s endowment is made up of a general fund which can be used to support virtually any cause, and restricted funds which support a specific area.

“We don’t have a restricted fund for seniors. So that’s why the idea came up to do a Support Our Seniors fund.

“So the donation from Wawanesa will go into that.”

Those interested in contributing to the Support Our Seniors Fund can make this tax-deductible donation at www.DDCF.ca, calling the DDCF at 204-638-4598 or toll free 1-877-974-3631, or stopping in at the office located at 100 Main Street South in Dauphin.