The Sturgis Kin Club's Mini-miracle 41 will have a different look this year. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions organizers are unable to host the annual mini-miracle in the usual manner with broadcasting live from a gymnasium with a packed audience.
The Club decided to host a virtual mini miracle with broadcasting the pre-ordered entertainment live on Facebook on February 25 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Club members will be answering phones, taking personal pledges and donations on that day as well as prior to the event. Donations will also be accepted by e-Transfers.
There are nine performers who will be showcased that evening, with pre-recorded performances by: Tom Hazelett, GX-94 2019 Star Search winner; Sherry Lesser of Lintlaw; Sherry Fehr and Jackie Guy, both of Yorkton; Laura Davis of Sturgis; Alexa Olson of Norquay; Jesse Jenialle of Swan River, and Brittany Jade and Vincente Pinaroc, both of Preeceville.
Performers who would like to send in their performance have until February 22 to submit their recordings.
The club is also planning a take-out only ham and perogy supper on February 21. The meal will consist of ham, perogies, a bun and a drink. Pre-orders are required prior to the supper.
"This year will be the 41st year that we have hosted the mini-miracle but the first time we have ever had to host it virtual," said Daniel Wasylenchuk, chairman of Mini-Miracle. "It will be different but we remain optimist that the public will still donate in these trying times and watch it live."
Over the past 40 years the Mini-Miracle has raised $947,394 for Telemiracle.
The first Mini-Miracle was held in 1981 and was originally established to be a different way to raise funds for Telemiracle. “The talent radio-a-thon only raised $8,000 and was very well supported," said Eugene Boychuk, one of the original founding members of Mini-Miracle. "The talent competition portion was dropped and we went to an entertainment evening that featured a radio-a-thon. The very first one we hosted was fun, packed full of high energy and has been a success every since."
The biggest change through the years was the significant increase of funds raised each year. Much has stayed the same which include members going to Telemiracle to make the donation presentation and answering phones taking donations on Telemiracle.
The Sturgis Composite School and the Kinsmen joined together in 1984 to create the mini-marathon running from Canora to Sturgis to raise funds that were added to the mini-miracle.
The Preeceville Hospital bed push, which began in 1986, had staff and volunteers pushing a hospital bed from Preeceville to Sturgis, also adding to the coffers of the total of the Sturgis Mini-Miracle.
The Sturgis Kinsmen and Kinettes underwent a name change a few years ago and are now known as the Sturgis Kin Club, a combination of both clubs.
The Kinsmen motto is serving the community’s greatest need and some of its greatest accomplishments feature the Trip of the Month fundraiser, the family duck derby and various other fundraisers that all help serve local organizations and individuals. All the funds raised by the Kinsmen are kept at a local level.
The following was taken from the Sturgis history book.
The Sturgis Kinsmen Club was chartered as a club in 1956. It's constitution states, "That Kinsmen shall carry on service work within their community." Some of the Sturgis Kinsmen projects over the years were equipping the community hall with chairs and tables, the kiddies Christmas show, donations to minor sports, food hampers, building a kiddies park, providing financial aid for the new arena, sponsored the ice carnival queen, assisted in the July 1st Sports and Rodeo, and numerous other community events.
In 1970, the club was presented the District 3 Efficiency shield. Fifty-three Kinsmen Clubs in the province competed for this shield which was awarded in recognition of outstanding achievements at the provincial level.
The Sturgis Kinette Club was organized in 1966 with nine members. Over the years they have helped the Kinsmen and contributed to many organizations.
