Community rallying to help Granum couple

By Rob Vogt
The community of Granum and beyond is rallying to help a local couple who have given so much of themselves to the community, and are now facing a serious situation.
In the early morning hours of May 3, unknown suspect(s) went to J.P.’s Petro and General Store in Granum to steal fuel. In the process, hoses were damaged, causing 2,800 litres of fuel to leak into the land.
Consequently, owners Barin and Vicky Beresford are facing extraordinary costs.
So, on July 1 the Granum and District Canada Day Society is hosting a benefit auction at the Homesteader in Granview Park.
Roy Penniket, the auction coordinator, said the Beresfords have given so much to the community.
“Anything going on in the community,” he said. “They help us out.”
Penniket noted they have contributed everywhere, whether it is giving the golf club a break on the price of fuel for their carts, donating a big screen TV to the library, and so much more.
“They’re just a big part of the community,” he said. “They have done everything for the community.”
Now, the Beresfords are facing hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs to remediate a fuel spill caused by criminals.
“This is through no fault of their own,” Penniket said, adding they have no control over these costs.
Their predicament was brought to the Canada Day society who met and decided Canada Day celebrations would be a great opportunity for a fundraiser.
“This would be a good time to do an auction,” Penniket said of the crowds that will be in Granum to celebrate Canada’s anniversary.
The auction will start at 3 p.m. and be conducted by Jessie Starling and his team, in the Homesteader located at 406 Aberdeen Street in Granum.
Penniket said donations of cash are being accepted in addition to auction items.
Moreover cash donations are already coming in.
Cash donations and e-transfers can be made at the ATB Financial branch in Granum.
E-transfers, which automatically go into the dedicated bank account, can be made by e-mailing friendsofjps2024@gmail.com (no dashes or spaces).
A GoFundMe account has also been set up at https://gofund.me/350aa57b (no dashes or spaces).
Anyone interested in more information can e-mail friendsofjps2024@gmail.com, or contact the following:
• Auction coordinator, Roy Penniket, 1-403-330-8250;
• Granum canvasser, Kate Ellis, 403-682-9059;
• Claresholm canvasser, Amanda Wild, 403-682-9755;
• Stavely canvasser, Sam Woermann, 403-625-9670;
• Fort Macleod canvasser, Sara Lewis, 1-403-330-2727.