Upper Room Mission closes in on goal

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 14, 2013 1:00 AM There is light at the end of the tunnel for Vernon’s Upper Room Mission. The non-profit agency originally forecast that a new fire sprinkler would cost $100,000, but the price has now been fixed at $94,000. But the really good news is that through fundraising, $62,000 is already in place. “Everything is moving right along but we still need a little bit of help from the community,” said Lisa Froom, general manager. Froom is confident the remainder of the money can be raised during construction, which starts in two weeks. “To see how far we have come is really encouraging,” she said. The $62,000 includes a $15,000 grant from the City of Vernon and $31,000 from the Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser. The fire sprinklers have been mandated by the city to meet building code. “We want to make sure we have high standards here and we provide our clients with a safe environment,” said Froom. It’s anticipated that installation of the sprinklers will take about six weeks. However, the mission will continue to provide meals during that time. Anyone interested in making a donation can drop by the Upper Room Mission at 3403 27th Ave.  For more information, call 250-549-1231.