"It takes a community to
support your community"-Rupi

In August 2021, Mike Bismeyer and I started this initiative to create opportunities for kindness and awareness for various initiatives in Abbotsford.

 Mike and I have done a couple of events in Abbotsford.  In August 2021, with the help from Duft and Co, Steve and Blondie we raised $2838.06 towards the starfish packs for children.  Starfish packs started here in the heart of Abbotsford in 2013.  Each pack is $600 and covers the cost for food for one child every weekend for the school year.

In March 2020, the pandemic shuts down the world.  My annual event in October, the clothing drive, Cozy Covers has to be shut down as there is a concern for the spread of germs.  My hopes in running an annual event across the country on even the world had to come to a close.

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In lieu of a clothing drive, October 2020, I planned for an online drive using social media, and gofundme to create opportunities for awareness on our community needing support and raising money!

Our goal was $40,000 to help various organizations.  In total we raised $13,743 dollars to give back to the community!

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I was able to give a cheque for $8,309.80 to Ministries 5 and 2 right before Christmas 2020.  The rest of the money was donated to Abby dads, Xyolhemeylh, children in foster care, Sarah for Women, and Cyrus Centre.

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In 2019, I decided to offer my clothing drive across Canada!  I delivered these care packages to my community champions in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Toronto.  On the same date and time in BC, we had the clothing drive running in 4 provinces!  Many volunteers were involved to make this a very successful event.  The plan is to be an annual event.

 

It was in the Fall of 2007, I was currently in school for my Bachelors program, and in class we had discussed the various transition homes in Abbotsford.  Within the same week, I heard on the radio if someone’s feet are cold their whole body is cold. This statement really stuck with me, and I thought that is sad to hear if someone didn’t have warm socks.  Then at the end of the week I had been out with a bunch of girlfriends, we went to restaurant, enjoy our appies.  We were in the restaurant still wearing our jackets, complaining its cold, and it was pouring rain outside.  I came home and thought about my week and how I wanted to make a difference.  The first year I decided to collect new socks for the next month. 

Asking for support from my family and friends, I ended up collecting 102 pairs of new socks for our community. 

one of your services.

Fast forward to 2019, over 16,000 items have been delivered to various organizations; Cyrus Centre, Ministries 5 and 2, Peardonville House, Kinghaven, Best for Babies, Family Centre, Sarah for Women, Warm Zone are a few of the organizations.