The future is looking bright for Western Care Lodge after Grain Corp donated $100,000 to the cancer accommodation service.
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Grain Corp donated the funds as a result of excess grain that it had earmarked for charity and Cancer Care Western NSW fundraising chairwoman Jan Savage said she cried when she learnt of the donation.
Cancer Care Western NSW built and runs the lodge for regional cancer patients who are undergoing treatment at Orange Hospital.
Mrs Savage said it covers a medical service catchment area of 300,000 people, including the grain growing areas of Western NSW.
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"We continue to be overwhelmed by the generosity and support that we receive, allowing us to continue with our mission to provide the best for our guests who attend us from as far away as Cobar and are away from home for often a couple of months," Mrs Savage said.
She said she was hopeful the donation will lift the spirit of the guests who have continued to stay at the lodge during the lockdown while they receive life-saving cancer treatment at the hospital.
"The current situation in our state with COVID has impacted many charities and organisations who are reliant on donations to support vital projects and amenities for vulnerable people," she said.
"This donation is so vital at a time when many of us are still requiring that valuable support to provide those time committed projects."
She said Grain Corp also donated $32,000 to the lodge in 2013 and $9000 in 2014, with the the latest donation bringing the total to more than $140,000.
Grain Corp's road compliance manager Kieren Gardner notified Mrs Savage of the latest donation but said it will be the last of it's kind due to it being the final year of its Mass Breach Policy from which the donation was sourced.
This is an incredibly generous gift to help us with our future projects and current projects.
- Western Care Lodge's David Kennedy
"The NSW growers delivering grain to agribusiness Grain Corp who exceeded their truck mass limit have generously opted to donate the extra grain to charity," Mr Gardner said of the donation.
Western Care Lodge management committee member David Kennedy said the $100,000 donation will go towards future upgrades such as interior painting as well as fencing and landscaping.
"This is an incredibly generous gift to help us with our future projects and current projects," he said.
He said with the original part of the lodge approaching its 10th anniversary and needs ongoing maintenance and refreshing.
"The current project we're working on is planning for a fence to keep the gardens contained," Mr Kennedy said.
Mr Kennedy said the lodge is also looking to work on its garden and the last major project was the installation of air-conditioners in bedrooms last year.
He said the committee is now considering installing solar due to the more expensive electricity bills but they are still working out the viability.
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