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Charlie does it again Former Yellowknife street person makes two more donations, totalling $15,000
Daniel Campbell
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, October 2, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
This isn't the first time Charlie Delorme, a man who has lived on Yellowknife's streets for 45 years, has given thousands of dollars of his own money away.
Brenda Fitzgerald, left, CEO of Stanton Territorial Hospital, along with John Williston, vice-chair of the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation, second from right, and Rebecca Alty, executive director of the foundation, receive a $10,000 cheque from Charlie Delorme.
- photo courtesy of Rebecca Alty |
Delorme wrote a $10,000 cheque for the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation Monday morning, only weeks after giving away another couple thousand dollars. Later in the day, he walked into the Salvation Army and dropped off a $5,000 cheque.
"He's really an example for our community," said Ruth Gillingham, executive director of the Salvation Army in Yellowknife.
Earlier in September, Delorme gave $2,000 to Yellowknife's SideDoor Youth Centre. At the time, he said he just wanted to give something back to the children, who are often kinder to him than older citizens.
Delorme contacted Rebecca Alty, executive director of the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation, at the beginning of September about the hospital donation. He wanted to make sure he could put the money toward the children at the hospital, according to Alty.
"I have the means, so I want to help," Delorme said.
Brenda Fitzgerald, CEO of the hospital, said the money will go toward the pediatrics unit to buy a new vital signs monitor and a pediatric wheelchair.
"You have a big heart, Charlie - it's only fitting that it supports a piece of equipment related to the heart," Fitzgerald wrote in a statement.
The money Delorme put toward the Salvation Army will go towards new bunk beds and mattresses, as was his wish, Gillingham said.
Delorme, who is around 65 years old, is often seen picking up bottles around downtown to bring to the recycling depot. He said the money for his donations came from a residential school payment he received from the government.
Gillingham said Delorme approached her a couple weeks ago to talk about leaving money to the Salvation Army in his will. He ended up deciding to simply donate then and there.
"I was very surprised," Gillingham said.
Delorme recently told Yellowknifer he has a warm house for this winter, but has been finding it hard to find work because of a pain in his leg. Delorme said he hadn't been feeling well lately, so he only asked that people pray for him.
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