INNISFAIL – The town’s Filipino community had a goal this past spring to raise enough money to purchase up to 20 wheelchairs for needy citizens in the Philippines.
That number of wheelchairs is no longer on the table.
Instead, enough money was raised to go well over 20.
A total of 25 wheelchairs will be purchased from the $4,875 that was collected from the Spring into Giving banquet fundraiser at the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion Branch #104 on May 31.
“That’s 25 wheelchairs. That’s $195 per wheelchair,” said Belle Danao, treasurer of the Phil-Can Neighbourhood Association. “Our target was 20 wheelchairs, and we went beyond that. So, we are very grateful.”
On June 22, members of Danao’s association, a local organization that has dedicated its collective philanthropy for more than a decade to the needs of others, were at Innisfail’s Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church to present a cheque of $4,875 to cover the cost for the 25 wheelchairs.
Doug Barlund, financial secretary for the Innisfail Knights of Columbus, said with additional contributions, individually and with Knights of Columbus’ projects, it’s expected a total of 36 wheelchairs from local donations will be going to Filipino citizens in the Philippines in 2026.
All monies will be turned over to the Canadian Wheelchair Foundation to facilitate the delivery of the wheelchairs.
“The Phil-Can association here in Innisfail is a great example of Christian charity,” said Barlund, who was at the cheque presentation on June 22. “And they continue to do that, not just for this one particular project, but they're always doing something to give to other people who are in need of whatever resource it is.”
In past years, the Phil-Can association’s fundraisers have supported local charities but for 2025, Grace Gresos, the association’s president, proposed helping Filipinos in the Philippines, an idea inspired during a month-long visit to her homeland last fall.
And this inspiration led to this year’s Spring into Giving banquet fundraiser, an event that resulted in an overwhelming response from the local Filipino community, and members of the Innisfail community at large.
“I am overwhelmed every time, because we don't expect this much from this event,” said Gresos. “We just want to thank Innisfailians for their untiring support every time we have this event.”
