Charity
WHAT IS WE DAY?
The WE day movement has been making its rounds from city to city and recently stopped by Vancouver. The star studded event ranged from multi-award winning actor Jacob Tremblay to musical sensations Hedley and Sonrea. Martin Sheen, well known actor and activist also participated in the Vancouver event, as well as lead an open discussion with WE founder Craig Kielburger.
As WE day continues to make it’s way across Canada we want you to be in the know of what WE day is and what it means to it’s founder, supporters and participants.
What is WE day?
WE day is a movement. “WE’s goal is to bring people together and give them the tools to change the world.”
Who started WE day?
Craig Kielburger, a child’s right activist whose goal is to make “doing good, doable”
What’s we day’s goal?
“WE Day is the manifestation of the WE movement, an ocean of people coming together to create impact. Standing in a stadium full of change-makers will reaffirm your belief that a better world is possible.” – WE organization
What does Craig think about activism does for a person?
“When we go out of our way to lift someone else up, that’s when we become our true selves,
“we have to wait until we get cracked open like a nut and that’s when we truly experience our own open.” – Craig Kielburger
Who participates in WE day?
Social rights activists, celebrities, actors, musicians, speakers and people JUST LIKE YOU.
What does Martin Sheen want the youth of WE day to know?
“WE day allows you to step outside and step forward and be aware that someone might step over you and that’s okay because you are in your journey and on your way to becoming and that’s okay. If you continue on your journey – you will find exactly what will encourage you to light up others”
What motivated Martin Sheen to continue following his dreams?
“I wake up everyday and share some measure of gratitude and it motivates me to continue to move forward.”
During the event’s intermission Craig and Martin participated in a Q&A together for student journalists. A student asked why social justice now? In Craig’s words “The ordinary individual is now more powerful and can do so much more, it’s officially cool to be a social activist and that is so cool.”
WE day may be over for now but there are several ways to support the movement. “WE empowers young people to find their passion and create the positive change they want to see in the world.” If you’re interested in connecting with the we community you can find more here.
“Social wellness for our community” is their mission, and for over forty years, Sources Community Resources Society has been providing help, encouragement, and hope for local individuals and families across the Province. Stretching their impact throughout Surrey, White Rock, Delta, Langley, Prince George, and Parksville, they offer a number of services and programs throughout 20 locations, and touch over 40,000 individuals and families in need each year.
As the first social service agency in British Columbia and the 13th in Canada to be accredited by the internationally-recognized Council on Accreditation, Sources supports communities through leadership, education and volunteerism – reaching children, youth, families, persons with disabilities, seniors, LGBTQ2S+ individuals, and others coping with isolation, addiction, mental illness, poverty, disability, and conflict.
This year’s Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) on Saturday, February 22nd in White Rock is just another example of the impact they have on our local communities. This family-friendly walking event helps raise funds for charities serving hungry, homeless, and hurting people in our community while increasing awareness on the topic itself. With a goal of fundraising more than $100,000, the proceeds raised will be put towards Homeless Prevention Services and the Rent Bank.
The Rent Bank is a service under the umbrella of Homeless Prevention Services, focusing on providing support to individuals and families who have low or insufficient income to access nutritious food, apply for income supports, medical disability benefits, receive legal aid, and ultimately, avoid homelessness. 100% of funds raised at the CNOY event will go towards it’s efforts to provide housing security to those in need.
Until last year, the government did not provide any funding for such services, however they now provide partial funding (by application). Although this does not ensure Sources will receive funding, it showed a clear understanding that the need is present. These programs help to assist local individuals and families who are living on a low income, and who are at extreme risk for homelessness.
This happens by supporting these individuals to achieve and maintain housing stability by facilitating and easing access to various income support or providing micro-loans for outstanding (overdue) rental or utility payments, damage deposits, or first month’s rent. The goal is to have people develop their independence and become self-sufficient by getting a (safe) home, and keeping a home.
In previous years, the impact remained strong, with Sources fully utilizing their budget for loans, and this past year showed no difference. From April 2019 until January 2020 alone, Sources received 383 service requests to assist with tenancy, housing, and income support matters. Case management services were provided to one hundred and eighty supporting with disability, income assistance, and other income support paperwork. In this same period alone, the Rent Bank approved 17 loans, providing $16,650 in assistance – helping a total of 38 people.
So how can you get involved? If you feel like walking 2, 5, or 10km for the cause, there is still time to register to participate among the other 49 teams and 233+ walkers, volunteer, or you can do your part donating to the cause and spreading the word! The White Rock chapter is just short of raising $60,000 raised – which means another $40,000 to go to achieve their $100,000 goal. Let’s come together as a community to make it happen and help those in need!
For more information on the Coldest Night of the Year event or the Sources Community Resources Society, take a look at their social media channels before:
Coldest Night of the Year:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cnoyorg
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnoyorg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnoyorg/
Sources Community Resources Society:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SourcesCommunityResourceCentres/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sourcesbc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sourcesbc/?fbclid=IwAR3AcRsFnhra1k9YAHj0cS-E21MzROofappmADkqGuzFCf-JcnSzXBbuUWw
As part of the One Billion Rising campaign to end violence against women, and the 11th annual UN World Interfaith Harmony Week community members from various faith groups will gather to create care packages for women and children living in transitional housing, shelters, and low income housing.
Surrey, BC: On February 5, 2020, we will be creating care packages filled with personal hygiene necessities to help women and children across the Lower Mainland. This will be our 8th year in uniting as neighbours from many cultures and faiths to collaborate and enrich our communities. This free event is family friendly and is open to the public.
Date and Time: Wednesday, February 5th, 2020; 6-8pm
Location: L.A. Matheson Secondary School 9484 122 Street Surrey, BC V3V 4M1
Event Format: 6-6:30pm cedar brushing and refreshments 6:30-8pm program and assembly of care packages
Event Registration: www.sur1brlm.eventbrite.ca
In February 2019, we were honoured to have Vera Jones, from Indian Residential School Survivors Society, talk to us about the struggles facing Indigenous women in British Columbia. We also created care packages for almost 1,000 people in our communities.
This year, we’re continuing the conversations we’ve started and building on our tradition of helping women and children in need. We will be supporting organizations such as:
- Ama Transition House
- Azure Place
- Bill Reid Place
- Charlford House
- Cynthia’s Place
- Dixon House
- Durrant Transition House
- Elizabeth Gurney House
- Evergreen Transition House
- Extreme weather shelters in the Lower Mainland
- Firth Residence
- Fraserside Emergency Family Shelter
- Hyland House
- Joy’s Place
- Kenkinow Native Housing Society
- Koomseh Housing
- Maxxine Wright Place
- Monarch Place
- Nova House
- Shimai Transition House
- Springhouse
- Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter
- Vi Fineday Family Shelter Society
Members of Indian Residential Schools Survivors Society irsss.ca will be welcoming event participants by doing cedar brushing, a traditional practice used to help clear negative energy. This will be followed by brief presentations by our partnering organizations, the reading of an official proclamation from the City of Surrey declaring February 1-7th UN World International Harmony Week, and the assembly of more than 500 care packages.
A similar event will be held in Vancouver at the Jewish Culture Center on Monday, February 3rd.
Our community partners include:
- Global Girl Power represented by Lucky Kaur Gill
- Global Peace Alliance
- Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen represented by Tej Kaur Sumbal
- Kaur Project represented by Jessie Kaur Lehail
- Mustang Justice represented by Annie O’hana
- Surrey Interfaith Council represented by Jonquil Hallgate and Sherry Marceil
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints represented by Sherry Marceil
- World Sikh Organization represented by Amanpreet Kaur Panesar
- Worldwide Shift Disturbers represented by Zach Coumont
Background on One Billion Rising provided from:
1 in 3 women across the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. That’s ONE BILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS. Every February, we rise – in countries across the world – to show our local communities and the world what one billion looks like and shine a light on the rampant impunity and injustice that survivors most often face. We rise through dance to express joy and community and celebrate the fact that we have not been defeated by this violence. We rise to show we are determined to create a new kind of consciousness – one where violence will be resisted until it is unthinkable.
One Billion Rising is the biggest mass action to end violence against women (cisgender, transgender, and those who hold fluid identities that are subject to gender- based violence) in human history. The campaign, which launched on Valentine’s Day 2012, began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than ONE BILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS.
As the holiday season comes to an end with the arrival of 2020, everyone should be able to find some food and warmth in the upcoming winter months of the new year. With this intention at heart, the Perminder Chohan Foundation organized multiple events in the days leading to Christmas – a food drive, a blanket drive, and a scrumptious lunch was organized for the less fortunate.
The food and blanket drives – were the second for the Foundation set up by B.C. philanthropist and businessman, Perminder Chohan. The community and Mr. Chohan’s friends came out to support the charitable events. All canned and non-perishable items collected at the Food Drive held in November were donated to the Surrey Food Bank.
The Foundations Blanket Drive was held on December 15th and more than 250 new blankets were donated. All blankets will be further donated to shelters in the Lower Mainland. The Foundation also sponsored and served lunch at the First United Church in Vancouver on December 16th, over 200 plated lunches were served.Mr. Chohan, the Managing Director of Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network – BC set up the Foundation to provide adequate education, proper healthcare and everyday living needs for the people who need it the most.
For more information or to make a Donation to the Perminder Chohan Foundation, please visit www.perminderchohanfoundation.com
My Name Is Desiré Amouzou, and I am a Producer and Photojournalist for Surrey604.com. I love working with Surrey604 a growing and developing grassroots magazine about Surrey and beyond.
Like any new endeavour it has its challenges though, and for me that challenge hasn’t been being part of a relatively new magazine but my personal struggles with my Mental Health, in particular my struggle with Depression.
Some days are great and some days it’s an all out battle to maintain balance. Throughout, I’ve been shown love and care and respect by friends, colleagues and even at times total strangers, and I try to do the same in return on every occasion.
At the same time I’ve also been exposed to the Stigma and Judgment attached to Mental Illnesses, especially as a Visible Minority and as nice as I am when people get to know me, still my height and size can be off putting to some at first glance.
That’s why I am choosing to support this months World Mental Health Day on October 10th.
Tomorrow!!!
To help educate while doing something that I love, that helps me feel amazing and helps connect with people and make them feel awesome. Just like my true friends have done for me….I am forever indebted to them.
To support this day I am offering, from now till October 10th, along with any photographer who might join me, to anyone and everyone,
1. mini 30 minute portrait session for $50, which gives you 3 portraits in 24 hours for you to chose and the rest to purchase. 30% of the profits of each shoot goes to headsupguys.org a non-for profit organization that supports men’s mental health awareness, diagnosis and treatment.
After the 10th I will continue till November by donating 20% of all my bookings, whether portraits or videography or corporate or creative projects.
I have set a goal of $1000 donated by October 10th. Thus far I’ve secured $250 in bookings .
Book me now by either emailing me at clickcritic247@gmail.com
Or phone call at 1-604-799-3757
I will be in SFU and Surrey Central area as well as the vancouver library on October 10th running a full day push on portraits and donations to the cause.
Subscribe to my Instagram Page below for updates on all my projects.
Great Clips continues back-to-school donations with over $33,000 CAD
check presented at school event
Local elementary school students will be better set up for success in the classroom at Holly Elementary thanks to a donation from Great Clips, Inc. The world’s largest salon brand, Great Clips® is donating to deserving schools across the U.S. and Canada as part of its Back-to-School campaign. This morning, Holly Elementary in Surrey, British Columbia received an over $33,000 CAD donation to help support the school’s meal program.
Holly Elementary Principal Andrew Shook shared that the donation will fund their breakfast and lunch meal programs. The breakfast and lunch programs respectively serve over 70 and 350 students each school day. The school has seen significant increases in grades and attendance among students since the meal program was implemented, and the donation will also support field trips for students.
Great Clips visited the school today to deliver supplies and Monster Jam® driver Cam McQueen met with students to get them excited for the school year. Great Clips, Inc. presented the check to Principal Shook.
“Children without a filling, nutritious breakfast and lunch end up thinking more about their hunger than anything else, so their learning and growth suffers,” said Surrey Board of Education chairwoman Laurie Larsen. “Our board needs and is grateful for community partners like Great Clips who provide such important support for children and our Holly Elementary community.”
“As students return to school, Great Clips is proud to give back to deserving schools and support programs across the U.S. and Canada,” said Great Clips franchisee and Vancouver co-op president Keith Chalmers. “We’re honoured to be able to help Holly Elementary students reach success in and out of the classroom.”
For the second consecutive year, Great Clips and Monster Jam are supporting schools and communities across the United States and Canada with donations that can be used for supplies, enrichment programming or other critical needs. In July, Great Clips pledged to donate $1 to schools for every download of the Great Clips Online Check-In app from August 1 through September 8 with the goal of donating $400,000 USD. For more information about Great Clips’ Back-to-School campaign, visit greatclips.com/schools.
About Great Clips, Inc.
Great Clips, Inc. was established in 1982 in Minneapolis. Today, Great Clips has over 4,400 salons throughout the United States and Canada, making it the world’s largest salon brand. Great Clips is 100 percent franchised, and salons are owned locally by more than 1,200 franchisees across North America. Great Clips franchisees employ nearly 40,000 stylists who receive ongoing training to learn the Great Clips customer care system and advanced technical skills. As a walk-in salon, Great Clips provides value-priced, high-quality haircare for men, women and children. Getting a great haircut at Great Clips is more convenient than ever with Online Check-In and Clip Notes®. To check-in online, visit GreatClips.com or download the free app for Android and iPhone. For more information about Great Clips, Inc. or to find a location near you, visit GreatClips.com.
About Monster Jam
Monster Jam® features world-class male and female athletes competing in the same events for the same championships on the same perfectly engineered dirt tracks that push these ever-evolving, state-of-the-art trucks to the limit. Beyond live events, the Monster Jam brand extends off the track into the home through products, content and merchandise that keeps the fun alive year-round. For more information, visit MonsterJam.com.
About Feld Entertainment, Inc.
Feld Entertainment® is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that bring people together and uplift the human spirit. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, Disney On Ice, Disney Live!, Marvel Universe LIVE!, Sesame Street Live!, Jurassic World Live Tour and DreamWorks Trolls The Experience. Across the brand portfolio, Feld Entertainment has entertained millions of families in more than 75 countries and on six continents. Visit feldentertainment.com for more information.
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