Two Grade 6 students from Sir Alexander Mackenzie say that you can have fun and do something important at the same time. They had an idea better than a lemonade stand and with a better message too. The message was 'responsibility'.
Erin Richards and Desiree Rose spent the last month sewing up a few dozen stuffed animals out of old t-shirts. The industrious youngsters then took their wares to school to sell during last week's parent teacher conferences. At the end they raised approximately $300 but they aren't pocketing the cash.
All of the proceeds are going to World Vision, a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice around the world.
"We're both animal lovers," Richards started to explain, with Rose adding, "(Erin) has a sewing machine and I love to sew, so …" she laughed. "We thought it might be fun to do."
"It did take up some time but we were able to get it done," Richards stated.
The handcrafted toys came with accessories like feed bowls. Their idea was to get people to think about being responsible for another life. Together they almost sold out the entire stock. The money will go to provide relief through immunizations and other programs. The two girls also said that part of the money would buy a goat for a family to help them provide for themselves in the future.
Their sale was such a success that they have already started considering something similar for the next round of parent-teacher interviews.
Movember takes over
A worldwide men's movement to raise money and awareness about prostate cancer has found a home at the city's newest fire hall.
Approximately 60 members of the team at Fire Hall No. 3 on Giroux Road have been growing moustaches since Nov. 1 as part of Movember, a month-long challenge to stop shaving. Facial hair, according to some members of the charity team, is a visible cue to keep the idea fresh in their minds that one out of six men in this country will develop prostate cancer.
"You're reminded it of it every day you look in the mirror," Greg O'Neil said. He added that with firefighters' increased risk of acquiring different cancers, the campaign hit home. "It was a cause that's close to our hearts."
He explained that with about 100 men in the department, the department considers how many firefighters will one day end up with prostate cancer.
Although participation requires the ability to grow hair on your face, he also said that there was one female staff member who the team named an honorary Mo-sister.
So far they have received almost $2,500 in pledges but hope to accumulate $3,500 by Dec. 7th. To learn more or to register your pledge, stop by the station at 100 Giroux Road or visit ca.movember.com/mospace/50861.
