Minto Retirees Activity Group disbands, donates remaining funds to hospital

PALMERSTON – The Minto Retirees Activity Group (MRAG) has made a donation of $2,300 to the Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation (PDHF).

It will be the group’s last official act, as the MRAG is shutting down due to difficulty organizing activities during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The MRAG was formed in April of 2005 to create and coordinate programs and activities for retirees within the Town of Minto.

The group organized the Senior Olympics, an annual day of competition in events ranging from shuffleboard to euchre, which was held in Minto from 2010 to 2018.

Affordable one-day bus trips to theatres and other attractions was another MRAG initiative.

With the onset of the pandemic in March, the group cancelled all scheduled trips and activities through the end of the year.

On Sept. 30, due to restrictions on group meetings and entertainment venues, the MRAG executive, “with deep regret,” passed a motion to terminate the organization and donate the balance of its reserve fund to the local hospital foundation.

“On behalf of the foundation I would like to thank the retirees for this donation,” said PDHF president Earl Campbell at a Nov. 4 cheque presentation at the hospital.

– Submitted by Alieda Murray