The Dinosaur Half was a success for runners on the course, and it shared its fortunes with the community last Thursday.
     The race committee donated $15,000 to the Badlands Community Facility. This is on top of the funds it gave following last year’s event, bringing the total to $19,000 over two years.
    “We’re just awfully proud that we are able to give back to the community in the fashion we have,” said Colin Kloot, organizing committee chairman.
    This was the second year for the annual Dinosaur Half and this year it almost doubled its participation, and added a 10 kilometre run to the event. There is no end in sight, it seems, and organizers hope to continue the growth into the future.
    “Without it being an inclusive participatory community event we wouldn’t have had it”, said Kloot.
    Kloot is appreciative to the committee, which organized the race, as well as the participants and the volunteers.
    “Our volunteers were amazing, not only on race day, but throughout the planning of the event,” he said.
    The event also enjoyed support from the community in the form of sponsorship.
    “Our sponsors, especially Community Futures, really stepped up to the plate, and we are really hoping to continue our partnership with them,” said Kloot, adding he is grateful for Encana’s sponsorship as well as all the other businesses and individuals that showed support.
    He said the support for the community facility by the committee would be an ongoing goal.
    “At this time, and until this community facility is well established, this will be our goal. And certainly whoever the beneficiary will be… the funds will never leave the community,” said Kloot.
    He adds that promoting health, physical activity and wellbeing will always be a component to the program.

    Organizers are gearing up for their one night blitz to help bring food to the tables of those in need, and residents have an easier way to give to the cause.
    This week, The Salvation Army dropped thousands of red grocery bags into the mail. These bags are for residents to pack and leave on their doorstep. This way volunteers are able to easily identify donations for the food drive, making collection that much easier.
    “We felt the bags would bring more awareness in regards to the needs of the food bank, especially this year because demands have risen and we need to raise our efforts to meet the demand,” said Lt. Matt Sheils of The Salvation Army.”
  This year’s annual food drive is slated for Thursday, November 24. The blitz starts at 6 p.m. and volunteers will be combing Drumheller neighbourhoods from Nacmine to Rosedale. There will also be volunteers canvassing Morrin, Munson and Carbon.
    Organizer Heather Colberg is grateful for the support of volunteers. This year, groups including the Morrin Library Club, the Sea Cadets, Drumheller Scouts, the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, the Drumheller Dragons, the DVSS boys basketball and girls volleyball teams and the St. Anthony’s volleyball teams are all pitching in.
    The former Liquidation World in Greentree Mall is once again the place where donations will be sorted.
    Colberg said they are still in great need of more volunteers on the evening of the food drive. Crews will muster at various locales throughout the valley before they head out. She says there are areas of Midland, as well as downtown Drumheller that are in need of volunteers.
    To learn more or to sign up as a volunteer, contact Heather Colberg at 403-823-0811, 403-8223-4242 or 403-823-2369.