Some local residents might have been surprised recently to see Clearwater Legion Hall listed for sale in the Times’ real estate supplement.

“We’re looking to see what our options are,” said Legion Branch 259 president Harry James. “Possibly we’ll sell the whole building and move into something smaller. Possibly we’ll just sell the hall and keep the portion with the small businesses, or maybe we’ll keep the hall and sell the other part. We’d be open to any suggestions to be considered by the membership.”

The problem is that a core group of Legion members has been wearing themselves out trying to raise money for mortgage payments, he explained.

The group, which is mostly made up of women, has been putting on regular community dinners, meat draws and other fundraising events.

The money raised has kept Branch 259 afloat but there hasn’t been anything left over to do the work in the community that the Legion sees as an important part of its mandate – or to do desirable maintenance and upgrades to the hall.

The downturn in the local economy hasn’t helped, plus the Legion’s membership is getting older and tireder.

“It’s a position common to small town Legions in B.C. and across Canada,” said James. “I understand other service clubs in town are dealing with the same issues as well. It’s not unique to Branch 259.”

James noted that money raised through the annual Poppy Fund campaign and through the branch’s gaming license must go for designated purposes and is not used for the hall.

Legion Branch 259 started in Vavenby in the early 1950s. From there it moved to what is now the Firewest Building on the Flats, then to the former Birch Island School. The branch built the present hall about nine or 10 years ago. Presently the branch has about 125 members.

People can support the branch by attending Legion functions, said James. The volunteers offer different meals at the hall’s community dinners every two weeks.

“It makes a nice night out and you won’t go home hungry,” the branch president promised.

He advised people to watch for the Ukrainian dinner coming up in the new year.

Other upcoming events include the Seniors Dinner put on by the Lions in the Legion Hall on Dec. 5. A dinner for local First Responders will be held early in 2011.

“No matter what happens, the Legion is the people, not the hall,” said James. “I didn’t join because I saw the hall. I joined after I met the people.”