By Scott Roblin and Charles Lefebvre

HALO hoping to grow donations with new fundraising initiative

Apr 23, 2019 | 3:24 PM

WHITLA, AB — HALO Air Rescue is hoping a new crop will bring good fortune to their organization.

The air ambulance service broke ground and began seeding 160 acres of land near Whitla on Tuesday. The plan is to grow wheat, harvest it and sell it at the end of the growing season, with all of the money going directly to HALO.

Kuizenga Farms out of Burdett donated the land to HALO for the project.

“New types of fundraising are always exciting,” said Allen Kuizenga, co-chair of HALO. “We have high expectations for this, and we hope it will turn out good.”

Kuizenga says all of the proceeds will go towards operating costs for HALO. The organization says keeping its helicopter in service costs approximately $2.6 million per year, or roughly $210,000 a month. The organization is funded primarily through donations and fundraising.

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“Fundraising is our number one way to keep the helicopter in the sky,” said Kuizenga. “Without fundraising from loyal halo supporters and the community at large, the program would not be going.”

Kuizenga says they’re hoping to raise at least $70,000 following the harvest.

“It depends on the growing season,” he said. “If we get lots of rain, it will turn out really good.”