Tina Nabozniak is one of the many faces who spurred the motivation for the successful completion of a new playground at Saltcoats School. The grand opening of the structure was held last week at the school.
Tina said, “Our motivation for a new playground was primarily because the student numbers were increasing and they had to have a schedule to take turns on it because it was too small for everyone, as well as it is 20+ years old.”
Fundraising during a pandemic over the last couple of years was not easy. Saltcoats School Principal Ron Gillis said Tina Nabozniak did a phenomenal job fundraising. Gillis said, “When I moved out here, I was new to the community. It was during a pandemic. I didn’t get an opportunity to get out and know people the way I would like to. Because of people like Tina, there were extensions out into the community to be able to bring people in and keep things moving. I think that makes us very rare over the last two years and this is such a celebration for her and her crew, but also the community. In the face of a global pandemic, they found a way to triumph.”
The fundraising group had a goal of $125,000 which they hoped to receive a good chunk of in grant money. When things became difficult during the pandemic, that venue was no longer possible. Nabozniak said, “we did what seemed like every fundraiser possible. Jerky, popcorn, pizza, quarter mile challenge, raffles, auctions, hot lunches, chocolates, In Good Taste, Mom’s Pantry, and a cash lottery.”
“All of our fundraising efforts were successful thanks to our amazing families, friends and communities of Saltcoats and Bredenbury; but, our top fundraisers were the online auctions we had and a beef raffle.”
“One was a general auction where businesses and/or people donated various items and the other was a bake sale. The support for both from the surrounding area was incredible. Also the beef raffle, it was all profit because the beef was donated by a local family Brett & Rebecca Callin.”
Nabozniak added that, “Our most significant challenge was Covid. When we started this journey in the fall of 2019 we had planned on bigger fundraisers. For example a concert, a party in the park and a walk/run to name a few. We also were denied every single one of the grants we applied for aside from $4000 from the Safe Start program the government gave money towards.”
Aside from the difficulties, the fundraising group found a way to engage the local communities in order to find success. Alongside Tina, the fundraising group included Alanna Armbruster, Ashley Morrison, Brittany Norberg, Hiedi Fiola, Marilyn Herron and Mandy Tangedal.
Mustang Champion sponsors for the playground ($5000+) include Grain Millers, SaskTel Pioneers, Cornerstone Credit Union, Yorkton Kinsmen Club, Diggers Excavating and Demolition and Farmers Business Network.
Mustang Promoter sponsors ($2500+) include the RM of Saltcoats and the Town of Saltcoats.
Mustang Advocate sponsors ($1000+) include Noble Construction Corp., Yorkton Auction Centre, Rocky Mountain Equipment, the School Community Council (SCC) and Brett & Rebecca Callin.
Mustang Supporter sponsors ($500+) include Laketown Leaders, Richardsons, Tyler & Adele Buchinski, Nathan Ritchie & Alecia Wolkowski, and Ron & Gerri Knudsen.
Tina added, “We also had numerous donations for people in sums less than our categories, and they are just as important because every single one of them got us closer to our goal and were just as important as the bigger sums.”
Looking to the future, there are more plans in the works for the Saltcoats School playground committee.
Nabozniak mentioned, “We do have money left over as we succeed our goal and had a couple breaks on the cost of installation that we didn’t expect. So, we are in the process of deciding on how we are spending it. It will definitely be going to outside equipment whether it’s an add-on to the playground, or a new gaga ball pit and soccer nets. With winter approaching we plan to have this all wrapped up in the spring.”
It is important to Tina to mention how grateful the group is to each and everyone who supported their efforts knowing that it was all for the students and how important it was to give them a new playground. “We could not have done this in 2.5 years without them.”