There’s no denying the resourcefulness when a group of charitable grandmothers gets together.
While COVID-19 might have put up a big obstacle in blocking the doors of the Shakers and Makers Market in south Edmonton (originally on the slate for October), the Edmonton GANG (Grandmothers of Alberta for a New Generation) and the East Side Grannies of Sherwood Park came up with their creative response.
When the going gets tough, the tough go online.
“All of a sudden, in April, here we are, we don't have that big fundraiser that we normally have. We couldn't have our meetings. Now, I think the big story is how we've adapted,” explained Lois Gluck, one of the St. Albert members of the group.
They’ve opened up a virtual store for the public – from the safety of their own homes – to peruse a vast selection of handmade goods produced by the GANG’s stalwart group of crafty volunteers.
The site has a wide selection of arts and crafts to choose from including earth-friendly items, home decor, Christmas gifts, kids items, toys, clothing and more.
Check it out at edmgrandmothers.org/welcome-to-our-online-store.
The proceeds go to supplement what the GANG brings in to support the work of the Stephen Lewis Foundation. It works tirelessly to assist grandmothers in sub-Saharan African who are caring for their orphaned grandchildren due to the AIDS pandemic.
Those proceeds are sizeable and, just as you’d expect from a team of experienced grandmothers, they go a long way to demonstrate the group’s resourcefulness and resilience in making the most out of as little as possible.
“We have a couple of big events every year: one of them is in April, and it's a fabric sale,” Gluck continued.
“In our group, starting in January, they usually work one day a week taking donated fabric: people cleaning out, people who their grandmother's passed away and she's had all this fabric that she's never used ... and we have a big fabric sale in April. We've made anywhere up to about $40,000, and that's from donated fabric. The other nice part about that is that any leftover fabrics that we don't sell is sent up north to the Northwest Territories to be used up there.”
They also fundraised amongst only themselves during an exercise challenge that was called Active for Africa, which brought in another $4,000. The Strathcona Antique Mall has also donated space for the GANG to sell bargain-priced, high-quality masks at $7. To date, they have sold nearly 1,500 masks.
Not bad for a tightly knit group of 100 or so seniors who are now practising stringent physical distancing for health and safety of themselves and the community.
Get ready for an online “PAWjama” party
The Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS) is prepping the critters and pouring the cocktails for its upcoming annual Critters and Cocktails auction and gala, though this year it will be an online affair. Part of the itinerary for the evening is purchasing a catered meal from Silvermoon Banquets, which will be delivered to your door that night by a dedicated SCARS volunteer.
The day of online entertainment will take place on Nov. 7. It will feature Facebook Live videos of SCARS adoptables along with many of fan faves from the traditional event including the Puppy Parade, the SCARS video, and more.
The auction culminates on the evening of the event as well. Bidding is already underway online and can be found at www.scarscare.ca/event/critters-cocktails-2020. It closes at 7:45 p.m. that evening.
Afterward, SCARS will be hosting an online Christmas Craft Fair that will run from 8 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14 until 8 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15. You can go to its Facebook event (found at facebook.com/events/592818484750017) and click on the Discussion tab to see information about the vendors and connect with them directly. More details can be found on its website.
SCARS is a non-profit animal rescue based out of Edmonton and Athabasca and is almost entirely volunteer-operated.
Major retailer offers big boost to SAHS
The St. Albert Housing Society is breathing a bit easier thanks to the support of Costco after a recent $5,000 donation.
"We'll use it to help the families that we've been helping. Certainly the donations are down this year, and we can't have a fundraising breakfast. It's a bit of a challenge so we were pretty excited to get that amount because the number of families calling is starting to increase," began Carol Sloan, operations manager with the SAHS, adding has observed a growing problem in mental health struggles and domestic abuses.
"You know, you wish you could help everybody but we try to take the families that are most in need."
The organization works to increase affordable rental housing in the community, which helps seniors, families, and individuals find safe and secure affordable housing. It can offer help and information through its website at stalberthousing.com.
