Salem Home is moving up plans to refurnish 40 aging rooms thanks to higher than expected community support.

Despite a historic winter storm October 10, the Building for Tomorrow dinner was sold out. Along with a generous anonymous donation, the Salem Foundation will be moving ahead with the nearly $100,000 project updating the furniture in the Maple North wing.

"We know that this is a large project and will take time to complete, but we are delighted to be able to begin the project with 40 rooms," Foundation Chair Arlen Hildebrand says.

He notes they're still accepting donations to the project to update the remaining 100 rooms in Salem Home. "We need to do the whole facility," CEO Sherry Janzen says, adding they started with Maple North because it has the oldest furniture, dating back to 1986.

The 2020 Faspa, Fellowship and Song fundraiser this spring will also be geared towards the refurnishing project.

Salem Foundation raises funds for programs and equipment at the Winkler personal care home that aren't funded through government sources, while the Salem Home Ladies Auxiliary work to enhance the well-being of the residents.