Don't forget to bring your blankets to the next game you catch at Akinsdale Arena. The Peewee Predators hockey team is asking the public to help out the homeless in Edmonton's inner city with donations of winter threads.
It started when Jodie McFadzen heard a CBC Radio interview with a representative from downtown Edmonton's Hope Mission, indicating that they were dealing with a shortfall of blanket donations.
"They usually had hundreds of blankets on the shelves but they only had eight and it was right when we were in that cold snap. We said, 'That's ridiculous. What can we do to help out?'" she said.
"We thought we'd fill up those shelves for them."
She and the team installed a collection box at the beginning of the month. Right from the get-go, the response was through the roof.
"We've had to empty the box basically on a daily basis. The response from the public has been overwhelming. It's been completely awesome."
She is asking people to bring in new or gently used blankets and quilts, winter coats, mitts, toques, scarves, and socks.
The collection box is located at Akinsdale Arena until the end of the month. McFadzen and other representatives from the hockey team intend to go to Hope Mission tomorrow to deliver the donations and also hand out bag lunches to some of the mission's guests.
If you have any large amounts or otherwise can't drop off a donation yourself, people are encouraged to email Judi Hanson at [email protected] who can help to make arrangements for pick up.
Philanthropic electronic donations
The Electronic Recycling Association is asking people to consider donating their unwanted used electronics. The items will be distributed to "a large waiting list" of charities and non-profit groups.
Right now, they are accepting computers, laptops, cellphones, monitors, projectors, and laser printers.
The ERA is a non-profit itself that works to lessen the environmental impact of improperly discarded toxic electronic waste by offering ways to help corporations and individuals keep their functional electronics in use by community-minded organizations that need them.
Some of the local organizations that the ERA helps out in this manner include The Edmonton Tool Library Society, Children's Autism Services of Edmonton, Islamic Family and Social Services Association, Opera NUOVA, EmployAbilities, the Learning Centre Literacy Association, and many others. There are nearly 50 such groups on the waiting list in the area.
People are asked to visit www.era.ca to find out more information, including how to make your donation.
