Once again, effusion art gallery’s artists came together at Christmas to help residents of the Columbia Valley. For the third year in a row, the gallery raised funds during the Christmas season through a unique event.

“Once a year we host an exhibition called Sparkle. The last two years the gallery artists have painted Christmas ornaments, which are then sold to the public to raise funds,” said owner of effusion art gallery Heather Cuell.

All of the money from the sale of the ornaments along with a percentage of the funds raised from the exhibition go to an organization in town. This year approximately 40 artists donated their talents to the sale with the final tally coming in at $2,300.

“We give back to the community supporting different organizations throughout the valley and this year chose the Emergency Department of the Invermere and District Hospital. We all take for granted certain things and I am quite sure every little bit of money helps,” Cuell said.

This feeling was backed up by the health service administrator for Invermere and Golden, Erica Phillips.

“We have two vital signs monitors and a suction machine for a crash cart that need to be replaced. So that is pretty much going to take care of the money. It is perfect,” Phillips said.

Phillips went on to explain the importance of these type of donations.

“The dollars that we get from the government really only fund a portion of the equipment the hospital has. So the donations from charitable organizations and fundraisers really keep our equipment at a state of the art level.”