A big donation and contribution made by Weyburn residents to the Ronald McDonald House of Saskatchewan on Tuesday.

So many lives were touched by the late Kailynn Bursic-Panchuk, who passed away tragically one year ago yesterday at the age of 17. A number of those who were close to Kailynn participated in presenting a special meal in her honour in Saskatoon at the Ronald McDonald House for the families who are currently staying there.

"It's called Home for Dinner," said Hannah Grieve, who was one of Kailynn's best friends. "Different organizations or groups of people come in and they make a meal for the families because usually, they have to make their own food. But it's so they can come back from the hospital and they don't have to worry about making themselves supper and they have like a home-cooked meal."

The group also made goodie bags for the children at the house. They even overheard one dad say, 'we really needed this today.' 

She said 15 people in total went up to Saskatoon on Tuesday to participate in the 'Home for Dinner' program. While there, Kailynn's mother Sandra LaRose presented the RMHS with a cheque for $3,678.

In honour of the one-year anniversary of the tragic passing of Kailynn Bursic-Panchuk, her mother Sandra LaRose presented the RMHS with a cheque for $3,678 on Tuesday. She also spear-headed the meal for the Home for Dinner program (photo courtesy of Tammy Grieve).

The funds were raised at Kailynn's birthday party, which was held on August 11th. The event was hosted at the Grieve residence.

"We had lots and lots of people at our house for the party," said Hannah Grieve. "Even people that couldn't be there were still supporting and making donations and bringing toys, and the whole community has been really supportive, so that was really great, we're very grateful for that."

LaRose stayed at the RMH after Kailynn's collision with a train last August left her in a coma for several days before doctors declared her brain dead, after which her organs were donated.

With the anniversary of Kailynn's passing just yesterday, and what would have been her 18th birthday on Wednesday, the timing could not have been better for the visit to the RMH.

"It was particularly moving for us to be a part of it, just being exactly almost one year since Sandra had stayed at the house, exactly a year ago, so it was a pretty moving moment," said Tammy Grieve, Hannah's mother.

In fact, she noted the Home for Dinner program is often put on by families who have been affected by being able to stay at the RMH.

With the first-year anniversary since the tragedy that affected an entire community now in the past, Kailynn's legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of those she influenced. Hannah Grieve said that while she will soon be moving to Regina to study Social Work, she will likely participate in the 'Home for Dinner' program again in the future.

"I would definitely like to do it again, it was a really good experience," she said. "Even just touring the house, it was really amazing just to see what they've done, like how they've provided for the families and just created like a really safe space for them."

'Home for Dinner' is entirely volunteer-based, and groups are welcome to arrange a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday to prepare a home-cooked, comforting meal for families staying at the house. Read more HERE.

McKenna Glennie and Hannah Grieve posing with a photo of their late friend Kailynn during the Home for Dinner meal they presented at the Ronald McDonald House on Tuesday in Saskatoon (photo courtesy of Tammy Grieve).