Kids love going out and one local social organization is now trying to make that easier by asking the public to donate unused event tickets.
Sidekicks Mentoring co-ordinator Sherri Koziol wants people to consider all of the different ways that they can make a difference in a kid's life. She recently put out a list of unique ways to help and donating tickets is just one of them. It's also the easiest way.
"The hard part is finding volunteers because it's a one-year commitment and it's hard sometimes for volunteers to make that kind of a commitment every week to see the children," she explained.
Sidekicks matches people from the community at large with school-aged children between six and 16 years of age. Its goal is to provide positive mentors and role models to children from low-income or single parent families, or those with special needs. It currently has about 30 kids on its roster but not all of them have been matched with their own mentors.
To that end, it is taking the lead from the playbook of Edmonton's Kids Up Front. Sidekicks is now asking for donations of passes to movies, cultural or sports events, Servus Place and Fountain Park Recreation Centre. It also hopes to entice people to give gift cards including coffee cards or any gift certificates or other free items and coupons that would otherwise go unused.
Koziol also hopes to make use of actual items or personal gifts that aren't wanted and can't be returned to stores, especially anything suitable for babies to teenagers.
"In St. Albert people are pretty affluent and they don't know that there are people who are really struggling."
She ended with the example that some of the mentors themselves are university students who are keen to go swimming or see plays with their assigned children but can't because they don't have a lot of pocket cash.
Sidekicks Mentoring is located at the St. Albert Community Information and Volunteer Centre at #10, 215 Carnegie Dr. For more information, call 780-459-6666 or visit www.sidekicksmentoring.com.
CPC Mardi Gras tix available
One good turn deserves another. That's why St. Albert's chapter of the Canadian Progress Club (CPC) is hosting its second annual Fat Tuesday fête called Mardi Gras North. The group's fundraiser last year was a huge success and organizers hope for a repeat performance.
CPC member John Rennie encourages people to come out for an evening of fun and festivities.
"It's just a lot of fun. That's the biggest aspect of it. It's fun and we're doing good things," he said, explaining that he had to miss last year's event but he heard all of the stories. "I missed it but man, the feedback from everybody there was fantastic."
The event takes place on Saturday, March 12. Doors open at 6 p.m. Entertainment by the Fat Tuesday Survivors and The RetroFitz and a silent auction will follow dinner. Terry Evans from K-Rock will emcee. Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes.
Tickets are $90 each and can be purchased from Rennie by calling 780-221-1179. All proceeds will go to support Uncles and Aunts at Large, although the CPC also works to provide assistance to other groups including the St. Albert Food Bank, Camp Warwa, St. Albert Stop Abuse in Families and the Northern Alberta International Children's Festival.
The Italian Cultural Centre is located at 14230 - 133 Ave. in Edmonton, on the east side of St. Albert Trail.
For more information visit www.cpcstalbert.ca.
