A $20,000 donation cooked up by Finlandia Village's Ladies' Auxiliary has helped push the fundraising efforts for the facility's new affordable seniors assisted living complex over the $2.5 million mark.

Sudburyn Suomalaisen Lepokotiyhdistyksen Naistoimikunta raised the majority of the money through the sale of homemade Pulla (Finnish bread), hand-woven rugs and other traditional crafts, as well as through the annual Christmas Tea and Bazaar.

The Ladies' Auxiliary presented the funds July 23.

“The ladies have worked for the good of the Finnish Rest Home Society ever since it was founded in 1982,” Maire Laurikainen, member of the Society Board and spokesperson for the group, said. “For the past 30 years, they have raised funds doing what they learned to do at home: by baking, knitting, making rugs, etc.”

There are roughly 30 active members on the Ladies' Auxiliary, the majority of whom reside at Finlandia Village.

“These ladies truly embody ‘Sisu’”, campaign chair Gerry Lougheed, Jr. said. “This money was raised through hard work, dedication and determination. What must be done – was done, and as a result, we are officially in the home stretch of this campaign.”

The Sisu Campaign is focused on raising $3 million to build Lepokoti, a new, affordable seniors’ assisted living residence, and the Oliver G. Korpela Wellness Centre at Finlandia Village. The project is nearing completion and scheduled to open in early October.

For more information on Finlandia and the Sisu Campaign, visit www.sisusudbury.com or call 705-524-3137.

Posted by Arron Pickard