A new wheelchair lift is helping Youville Home residents get around town a little easier this fall.
St. Albert Breakfast Lions Club members officially unveiled the Youville Home’s new shuttle bus wheelchair lift on Oct. 9. The lift and its related modifications to the bus cost $18,000 and was funded by the Youville Home Endowment Fund, which is a joint initiative of the Youville, Breakfast Lions, and the Covenant Foundation.
Club member Henry Irving said the club and the Youville pick projects to finance every few years using interest collected from the endowment fund. The fund supports the club’s ongoing mission to support seniors. The new lift, which was actually installed two or three months ago, replaces an old, broken one that wasn’t worth fixing, and will help wheelchair users get on and off the facility’s shuttle bus.
“It allows them to be out with the rest of the group,” Irving said.
Youville resident Ed Krasowski, 93, said the lift was a very smooth ride and had been a great help to him.
“I go on the bus whenever I can,” he said, both to go shopping and to join others on outings.
In a media release, Youville Home program manager Sheri Norum said the Youville was tremendously grateful for the Breakfast Lions’ help.
“This support allowed us to replace our previous van wheelchair lift, which not only enhances residents’ mobility but also enriches their lives by helping them engage in positive activities outside of Youville Home.”
The Breakfast Lions have donated some $100,000 to the endowment fund since it started in 1994. Questions on the fund should go to [email protected].
