YORKTON – Extravadance Studio, under the leadership of owner Kristin Weber-Karcha, is once again spearheading the annual Stockings for Seniors initiative.
This marks the fifth year of the studio’s involvement in the effort, which originated from a Facebook group called Yorkton’s Pay It Forward.
“We collect items and we provide stockings to all the residents of all the Yorkton Nursing Homes and about seven other nursing homes in the rural areas,” said Weber-Karcha in an interview with Yorkton This Week.
The communities that benefit from this initiative include Yorkton, Canora, Preeceville, Invermay, Norquay, Kamsack, Saltcoats, and Theodore.
The studio also encourages public participation.
“We put it out to the public for them to adopt [a senior] so they can get a little shopping list and they go out and buy little items for their resident,” said Weber-Karcha.
A few days before Christmas, the collected items are delivered to the seniors, ensuring they receive a little Christmas present.
This year, the initiative aims to prepare 600 stockings in total. Weber-Karcha mentioned that they are still actively looking for people to participate as there are still 100 stockings left to be made.
She also noted that any excess donations would be given to other groups and individuals who may need them or carried over to the following year.
In addition to the Stockings for Seniors initiative, Extravadance Studio has other plans for the holiday season.
“Next weekend (Dec. 17) we have our ‘Kids Helping Kids Christmas Concert’… a bunch of our dancers participate in that,” said Weber-Karcha.
The concert, set to be held at the Anne Portnuff Theatre at 2:00 P.M., will feature several performances from multiple groups in the city. The suggested admission is $2.00 and a non-perishable food item for a chance to win a door prize.
The concert is organized in collaboration with the East Central Newcomer Welcome Center.
“Any families that have just recently moved to the community that have kids that are looking to get Christmas presents and stuff like that — the money that we raise during that Christmas concert will pass over to those families,” said Weber-Karcha.
The event will also include a toy drive, with the collected toys going to the newcomer families.
Extravadance Studio is also conducting a food drive and an animal supply drive.
“We’re collecting in both Preeceville and Yorkton because we have a studio in both towns,” said Weber-Karcha, adding, “we’re collecting toys, food, and animal stuff at both of the locations.”
The studio’s commitment to community service is clear.
“We will help out anybody we can,” said Weber-Karcha.
