Katie's Cottage, Southern Manitoba's first respite home, is the recipient of a number of grants and donations totalling over $70,000.
Access Credit Union recently presented the proceeds of their 4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament, over $60,000, to Katie Cares' Ruth Reimer.
The tournament raised nearly $36,000 from participants and sponsors, with ACU adding an additional $25,000 donation.
"We are honored and humbled by the patronage we received at our golf tournament, from our sponsors and attendees," Larry Davey, President and CEO of Access Credit Union says. "We are pleased to support the work of Ruth and Randy in the pursuit of Kaitlin’s vision."
Reimer explains the ACU donation will be earmarked for a walking path, connecting Katie's Cottage with the Boundary Trails Health Centre across Centennial Dr. 
The library at Katie's Cottage also saw an influx of new books recently thanks to the South Central Regional Library. Cathy Ching, Director of Library Services, explains kids enrolled in the 2016 Summer Reading program donated "fun bucks" earned through reading minutes. The SCRL then converted the bucks to real money to buy the books.
"The children were very generous and seeing as how they were participating in a reading program, this seemed like the perfect fit," Ching says.
Katie Cares was also the recipient of a $10,000 grant from the Farm Credit Canada Agrispirit Fund. Reimer explains the money will be used to pay for materials on the completed front porch and back deck of the respite home.
The cottage, first imagined by Katie Cares Founder Kaitlyn Reimer before she passed away in 2012, opened to rave reviews earlier this summer. 
She notes they've seen more than 20 guests stay at the cottage and have heard only positive feedback.
"I now know for sure this was the right thing to do," she says. "People have come here in really stressful situations and they've found peace and friendly volunteers ready to help them... give them that cup of coffee... a shoulder to cry on."
However, Reimer hopes more patients and their friends and families make use the Cottage during the day, noting entry is free to all ages.
"If you have a loved one going through rehab or testing, you can come across the street and just sit in a comfortable living room, watch some TV, and then go back to the hospital when they're ready," Reimer says.
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