Deadline nears on QRU hall fundraising campaign

The Lakeside Quick Response Unit has

raised two-thirds of the funds it needs to be able to move in to

its new ambulance hall on Bills Road since a fundraising campaign

kicked off in December.

The QRU currently has collected roughly

$100,000, with $50,000 more needed to complete work to make the

garage and office space operational for staff and volunteers, said

Steve Rosso, the QRU president. The initial fundraising campaign

concludes at the end of March.

Construction work began in April 2010

on the two-story building that includes three ambulance bays and is

being completed in phases as funding is available. After work is

done to allow the QRU to move from the fire hall down the street,

the next step will be to raise money to complete the 182-seat

community meeting room. In years to come, the QRU will also be

looking to complete the roughed in living quarters and other

aspects of the building.

Insulation work is underway currently,

with hopes of having the garage doors installed by the end of the

month. Once the building is completely enclosed, work will get

underway on setting up the interior operations area for the

QRU.

“We’re going to be accelerating our

effort once the weather breaks, also as we have more fundraising

success,” Rosso said.

At an open house in December, the QRU

launched a fundraising effort to sell both large and small engraved

floor tiles to help with building costs as well as an effort to

create plaques listing donors.

The large tiles run at $5,000 apiece

and the smaller tiles are $1,000. To encourage smaller

contributions, the QRU will also have plaques in the entry way in

bronze, silver and gold for donations of $100, $250 and $500.

The deadline for purchasing or

investing in the floor tiles and plaques is March 31.

“Those who want to need to make

contributions before the end of the month,” Rosso said.

In addition to the floor tiles and

plaques, the QRU has plans for other fundraisers in the works,

though details have not yet been finalized, Rosso said.

Donations can be made at any time by

mail to the Lakeside QRU, PO Box 911, Lakeside, MT 59922.

IN MEMORIAL

Several efforts have been undertaken by

locals to commemorate individuals from the Lakeside area through

the floor tiles at the new Lakeside QRU ambulance hall.

One such effort is an engraved tile in

memory of John Morrow, who died in October 2010. Morrow was a

leader and top responder for 27 years for the Lakeside QRU.

Residents can make direct contributions to the tile by sending a

contribution, with Morrow’s name, to the Lakeside QRU. In addition,

at the Tamarack Alehouse and Grill’s Community Tap Night on

Wednesday, March 16, 75 cents from every pint sold between 6 p.m.

to 9 p.m. will go toward Morrow’s memorial.

For more information on the building or

the names of others who are being commemorated, call 844-2775 or

visit lakesideqru.org.