What's up Ladies!
With my efforts of being more social I thought I would try to participate in contests, I used to have a great time doing so in the past before I went a little more on the quiet side. New year, new commitment, new effort. This week's topic is interesting. Giving and charity. Money, time...whatever one has to offer. A small personal sacrifice to help another, this world needs more of it. For contest details, here is a link below.
@ladiesofhive/ladies-of-hive-community-contest-169
As far as a set specific charity, I can't say that I have one but Edmonton has a multitude of reputable organizations that each have unique ways of raising funds in fun little away around the community. As I come across them I make a donation, $20 here $40 there. I don't claim tax receipts for them so hard to say I much I spend that way, all the amounts are scattered throughout the year and keeping all that paper work, well I would probably lose it . Depends on my finances at the time.
Given my humble beginnings, youth societies, sports team, school fundraisers tend to pull on my heart string. Strathcona Youth society has a colorful front with a mural of it's own to great some of the at risk downtown youth with a variety of mental help services and resources along with running hands on workshops and mentorship programs to keep them interested in wholesome things rather than fall victim to street activities. They come collecting by offering coupon books and chocolate in exchange for a $30 donation was their last round. They also accept via their website. https://www.osys.ca/
Besides the youth society, there is always a team or school kid selling something from chocolate to environmentally sidewalk ice melter in order to not slip on the walkway, conveniently, if it's -40 where you live...well you might need a few buckets of it...at least we sure do here. It's somehow cheaper than buying it at the hardware store and works better. This generally supports youth hockey teams in the region. Another hockey related event is the local teddy bear toss at the Oil King games. They generally play in the same arena as the pro NHL team of the oilers. every Christmas season, they hold a TEDDY BEAR TOSS event where it's encouraged that every attendee bring a brand new teddy bear to be thrown on the ice at a certain time to then be collected by a team and donated to underprivileged families with small children as Christmas presents. I don't attend too many Oil Kings Games but this one I will.
When attending various pro sporting from hockey to football, Edmonton has a strong donation culture and any ticket sales 50% of the proceeds collected go to various organizations across our city and greater region including many junior hockey organizations and doing much work with children organizations . They rotate every game to keep it diversified and help a greater number of people. Who doesn't like to gamble a little for a good cause. We often get free seats part of draws from work related things so it gives a little extra for charity gambling.
Another great organization that is worth buying into is the STARS Lottery, sorry I don't have any pics of them, just a website. They have some mighty prizes available over the course of the year with many different ticket packages available. STARS services are essential to our province, this is our air ambulance. With the many rural areas along with being able to land in the middle of a highway intersection with 10 000 workers in front of our worksites coming in and out of work all at once in a major traffic jam like it was nothing. They make it look easy with their highly trained team of expert Stars, they deserve the name. I was amazed, helps knowing just how fast a team of emergency personnel can go in and out of anything and if the worst happened on site, there might be a chance. They came to pick up a worker that was having a heart attack where an ambulance was driving off the site gate as the air ambulance arrived and in less then 5 minutes, they were gone. Impressive. https://ab.starslottery.ca/
Another touching story, I didn't witness but while I was at the hospital tending to a friend in the burn unit, I met a lady outside also having a cigarette and we began talking. she was there from out of province from an extended stay, her grand-daughter had fallen suddenly ill and was at death's door within hours but they didn't offer the medical services she required, STARS went to pick her up in Saskatchewan and brought her to Edmonton and she lived, she was 2. With that being said, they offer the same service province wide airlifting critical care patients where the services required are available. the families with children are generally provided accommodations at the Ronald MacDonald House to be able to be with their sick child with less stress and spare expensive hotel stays in the process. https://rmhcalberta.org/
Edmonton Heritage Fest is a popular festival held every summer to celebrate the multi cultural fabric that makes Edmonton. The festival is held in a popular downtown park attracting many Edmontonian over a week-end of food tasting, music dancing, outdoor market. The entry fee is a donation, either cash or foodbank. Since cash is easier than carrying a bag of food, opting for cash donations is much more convenient. Edmonton food bank along with any local food banks support many under-served families and as inflation and housing keeps rising fast, so is the need for basic needs. Like any other cities, it's pretty convenient at supermarket with purchasing pre-made hampers with a few basics. They generally go for $20 each.
Supporting and visiting the various gardens and other nature preserves with a fee like national and provincial parks along with smaller local gems tied to university programs is another way to support various services to the nature that supports us. Getting yearly memberships is always welcomed even if it may not get fully used as the funds are critical for them to continue with conservation or to maintain an often time program tied to the University of Alberta programs and create employment and experience for students in training.
Obviously, there is no shortage of fun and interactive ways to participate within the community by financially contributing to many odd causes rather than one large one, I can't talk about all of the ones I participate to but this is a strong list already. Besides the organizations, nothing beats helping others directly. Homelessness has become an epidemic in our city. If I go someplace to eat and I see somebody homeless or hungry asking for change, I will offer to buy them a complete meal instead, whatever they want within reason. Often times, they are happy to also have someone to sit and have lunch without judgement and chat, share their story. If they are eating something, they become a customer and can also warm up from the cold for a while worry free. Never underestimate being an open ear for somebody in need both in the rich and poor alike, that is charitable in itself, allowing someone to tell their story.
This may not be for people in need financially but when I go around the Rockies or anywhere for that matter and I see Mums always taking family pictures but never in them. Mums ARE family members and should be in the family photos too so I'll offer to take some for them, often I hear them say they appreciate being able to make the photo and vacation memory whole...plus little do they know I'm semi-pro so my framing creates some bad-ass printable and frameable quality, even if taken with their cell phone. Sometimes there are ladies that travel alone and want a mini photoshoot in front of their favorite background, I'll take their phone and give them a mini session. After 15 minutes of poses I'm gone tho lol. sorry I'm not your new friend, just for a little while.
If it's a friend well, they get like most photographers charge for a $500 package but I don't charge, single moms are generally my target audience. I already bought the camera so it's not like it's costing me anything extra beyond that. A visual reminder as to why she works so hard with her in the picture, everyone forgets Mom for some reason. Obviously the various gardens I have memberships to or other venues I visit make for great backgrounds anyway along with a fun friend meet-up. Photography is expensive and for most single moms, probably too expensive so a chance to have that personal frivolous item without hitting the wallet hard. I dunno about everywhere else, here in Canada, life is expensive.
Children grow up fast, once that time is gone, it's gone and there comes a time for everyone photos are all there is left. I follow the willing participants around like a creepy stalker with a camera and when they think I'm not looking doing my own thing and they are having fun together and bonding, BAM I snap my photos. The results generally make mothers cry tears of joy as they see their mother and child bond so naturally displayed in close-up portrait style photos and they didn't even know I was taking the picture, took the shyness and awkward smile right out of that child. lol. Secretly I love seeing the reactions.
This isn't exactly charity either but nothing beats good old random acts of kindness as we go along with our day. Society has become cold and many people need help but too prideful to ask and some things require less than 5 minutes each. I have an old neighbor in his 80's and his mobility and health has been deteriorating over the last few years but lives alone. I go make sure is car and walkways are clear of snow when I shovel my own. Sometimes I bake or cook extra and will bring him a plate or an order of his favorite Mary Brown fried chicken....MMMM FRIED CHICKEN. Now I want some too. Obviously this is just one example in being a kind steward in society and we can all find extra ways to be a little extra helpful to someone we know or a stranger. In the end, kindness is free and creates more acts of kindness, perhaps an important act of mental charity. Spreading good vibes.
I may or may not have disqualified myself by coloring outside the rules a little and talking about more than one favorite. I just thought it was a nice subject to post about, I don't really understand all the extra tokens/rewards or what they do besides the base token. I'm so technologically illiterate on the more technical stuff that goes beyond posting.
Laterz! xox
