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 For the last six years, the “Lend a Hand” program at Grand Casino Mille Lacs has worked closely with area businesses to provide families in need with much needed home repairs and maintenance projects. This year, we have selected Shari Grave from East Gull Lake. In February 2011, Shari was diagnosed with acute leukemia.
The Lend a Hand date is scheduled for Tuesday, August 2. We are honored and excited to help her, but know that this program wouldn’t be such a success without donations that we receive from area businesses and the efforts contributed by our Associates.
A special thanks to the following companies who are donating supplies and materials for this Lend a Hand project.
We appreciate your partnership, and thank you for your generous donation.
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EAST GULL LAKE, Minn. – Twenty-seven Grand Casino Mille Lacs facilities department Associates teamed up for the casino’s 2011 Lend a Hand program to provide much-needed home repairs and maintenance to East Gull Lake resident Shari Grave today – Tuesday, August 2.
The program annually awards one-day home makeovers to individuals who meet criteria based on income, physical limitations, medical issues, and other challenges. A committee of facilities Associates interviewed four nominees for the program and selected Grave as the 2011 Lend a Hand recipient, based on her story.
Shari Grave is described as a kind, considerate and compassionate person by her boss, Bob Schricker, the executive director of Breath of Life Adult Day Service. Shari was a lead program aide for the nonprofit organization that provides daily enrichment for seniors. “Shari has a real gift,” said Bob. “She understands the needs of those who can’t express themselves any longer and brings a sense of calmness into their lives.” Bob knew that he had to nominate Shari for the Lend a Hand program. “She is far beyond a deserving candidate for this program.”
This past winter, Shari had not been feeling well. Several doctor appointments had her chasing down symptoms with no final result. Her energy level was quickly depleting, and she often found herself running out to her car during her breaks to take 15-minute naps in order to function the rest of the day. That is when she knew she had to dig deeper. In February 2011, she went back to her doctor. Several blood tests confirmed her worst fear. Shari had acute leukemia. “It all happened so fast,” she said of her diagnosis. “I needed to be in Duluth by 9 a.m. the next day, and less than 24 hours after my diagnosis I was admitted to the hospital.”
Over the next 30 days, Shari endured three surgeries to secure a chemo port that would administer her treatments. She knew this was just the beginning and that the next step was to start chemo. She now receives chemo in Brainerd five days a week for 10 weeks in the hope that it will kill off the cancer cells (currently she is on a two-week break). Unfortunately, the type of cancer she has does not respond to bone marrow transplants, so her only hope for recovery is the extensive chemo treatments.
Shari is married to her sweetheart of eight years, Scott. She loves to garden and tent camp, and she also shares a love for riding motorcycles with her husband. But because of the cancer and her reduced tolerance for infection, she is unable to do the things she loves the most. “It turns your life upside down. The worst part is not being able to do the things I want to do,” she said. “Physically, I am weak and at a disadvantage. Grocery shopping is even exhausting.”
Because of the time that she has to dedicate to her daily treatments, Shari is unable to work. “We were a family that had two full-time jobs, and I had another part-time job. Now we are a one-income family. That is hard in itself.” The projects that she and Scott had dreamed of completing around the house have been postponed.
“When I found out that I was chosen as the Lend a Hand recipient this year, I was so excited I called my mom and my girlfriends right away,” Shari explained. “It is truly an honor, and I am so glad that there is a program out there like this that helps people. This experience has been a blessing to us. Just knowing that people are here to lend a hand is a big part of the recovery.”
The Lend a Hand committee knew that Shari was a great choice too. “We are very excited for the opportunity to provide Shari and her husband with these home repairs,” said Mike Nickaboine, vice president of facilities at Grand Casino Mille Lacs. “After all she has been through, she truly deserves a helping hand. We are grateful for this chance to give back and for the generous donations from our local community.”
The casino also donated $1,000 in Shari’s name to Breath of Life Adult Day Services. “Shari’s passion is inspiring,” said Ronda Weizenegger, general manager of Grand Casino Mille Lacs. “We wanted to do something more for the organization that she cares so much about.”
Volunteers washed Shari’s windows, extracted carpet, split firewood, poured concrete in the patio area, weeded the garden, landscaped around her yard, recycled scrap metal, grounded tree stumps, removed a tree fort from her yard, fixed her fire pit, replaced fascia, and put a seal coat on her driveway.
The casino received valuable assistance and donations from local Minnesota companies including Brainerd General Rental, Brainerd; Landsburg Nursery, Brainerd; Anderson Brothers, Brainerd; Hirshfield’s, Baxter; Cemstone, Brainerd; Norson, Inc., Baxter; Jim’s Mille Lacs Disposal, Milaca; Probuild, Pequot Lakes; and Grand Casino Mille Lacs’s own facilities, food and beverage, marketing, and security departments.
Leukemia hasn’t kept Shari from helping others. She still visits Breath of Life and encourages the program participants any chance she gets. “She has touched their lives,” explained Bob. “She has a great sense of compassion and you can notice the ease she has with everyone who knows her.”
After her 10 weeks of treatment are complete, Shari will head back to Duluth to be admitted for additional treatment. A benefit is being planned for the Grave family on Saturday, August 27, at 4:30 p.m. in Shari’s hometown, Pine River, at the Legion Club.
The Lend a Hand committee includes the following Grand Casino Mille Lacs Associates: Arlene Bentley, Mike Nickaboine, Corey Wind, Todd Christopherson, Jim Hutchinson, Ray Kegg, Juliet Curtis, and Sarah Barten. Additional Associates who volunteered their time to help the Grave family include: Craig Nass, Mike Renfro, James Meister, Dennis Hyatt, Collin Ten Bruin, Art Johnson, Leo Roufs, Deb Steiner, Steve Sam, Mike Allie, Robinn Bruckhoff, Eugene Davis, Taylor Herbaugh, Ronda Weizenegger, Ned Weizenegger, Mike Engel, Ritz Villebrun, Lorena Horak, and Brian Barnett.
About “Lend a Hand”
The Lend a Hand program was developed by the casino’s facilities department as a way to give back to the community. The committee receives nominations from Grand Casino Mille Lacs Associates, interviews the nominees, and selects the home makeover recipients. This is the program’s seventh year.
About Grand Casino Mille Lacs
Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley, which are owned by the Corporate Commission of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, are two of Minnesota’s premier entertainment facilities, offering gaming, accommodations, dining, conference and banquet facilities, and live entertainment.
To view FAQs about Lend a Hand, click here.