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12 Simple and Low-Cost Ways to Give Back (and Make a Big Impact) This Holiday

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3 minute read

Organize a Food Drive

Enlist your neighbors in your effort to give back and offer to handle logistics. Pass out fliers with suggested donation items, your drop-off time and the organization where you will deliver the donations on your block’s behalf. This can easily be done while practicing social distancing with staggered drop-off times, and simply setting up a table on your driveway where people can drop off their items while practicing social distancing.

Check in with an Old Friend

Take the time to reconnect with an old friend by writing a letter to someone you’ve lost touch with. You’ll both feel good!

Think About the Animals!

Donate used blankets, towels food, litter, or toys to a local animal shelter.

Give Back to Our Planet

Challenge yourself to adopt an earth-friendly habit for a week, month or the entire holiday season. Using your own reusables, such as travel mugs and cloth shopping bags, can go a long way. Use newspaper to wrap presents and get creative with reducing your waste over the holiday!

Treat Local Firefighters and Front-Line Workers

Treat the hard-working individuals of our local fire stations or hospital with some unexpected treats to say thanks.

 

Feed Hunger

Make a brown bag meal or two for the homeless. Check with organizations for guidance on what their clients need most. Warm socks and travel-size toiletries such as toothpaste and hand soap are often greatly appreciated. A little goes a long way.

 

The Gift of Life

Donate blood!

Random Giveaways

Break $5, $10 or $20 into dollar bills and give them away throughout the day to those who could use a buck. Maybe it’s just buying a coffee to the person behind you in line, or someone standing on the street. Perhaps even lend an ear and listen to their story. You just might change the course of someone’s day with your generosity.

Pay it Forward with Bus Passes

Purchase bus transit passes that can be used any time, and head on down to the bus station and hand the passes out to individuals who could use a break.

Spread the Words

Donate your gently loved books to those in need of a good read, like nursing homes and shelters.

Give Your Undivided Attention

Unplug from technology for a couple hours per day and give full focus to your children, significant other, friends, pets and even yourself.

Throw Down a Charity Challenge

Share this post on social media along with ways you are giving back. Then challenge your friends and followers to do the same.

Volunteer Central strives to build a strong, connected and engaged community through volunteerism.

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Community

Red Deer family rocked by cancer diagnosis seeks support from the community

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From the Facebook page of Nicole Maurier

With permission from Abby Marie Maurier I am reaching out to you today to let you know that my beautiful daughter Abigail has just been diagnosed with cancer. She has Lymphoma, which is cancer of the lymphatic system and she also has a large mass on her right lung.
What I’m asking for is a variety of support in these ways:
1. Have you or someone you know been diagnosed with cancer, specifically Lymphoma and do you have information you can share about treatement, top clinics etc.
2. Are you someone that has information that you can share towards her holistic healing? She will require postive lifestyle changes such as nutrition, meditative yoga, massage, etc.
3. Can you help support Abigail’s journey by contributing towards her fundraiser in order to help her prior to treatments, during and afterwards.
4. Your prayers, intentions, love and support is greatly appreciated
5. Please share this post so we can reach as many supporters as possible
I am a warrior Mama Bear on a mission to heal my daughter and I won’t stop at anything. I believe healing is possible, I believe in the power of community and love and I believe that together, all of us will help heal her in some special way.

From GoFundMe

Hello, my name is Nicole and I am fundraising for my beautiful daughter Abigail. Abigail was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma, which is cancer cells in the lymph system, and she also has a large mass on her right lung.
She is a young beautiful woman, age 24 and she graduated as a Cardio Tech in 2021 and has been enjoying her work at the hospital tending to cardio patients with the utmost love and care. She has just started her journey in life, residing with her long-term boyfriend Gus in their home with their 2 bunnies, Biggie and Peaches. Abigail also has a dog named Kyah, who is with her in the photo.
Anyone who has been blessed to cross paths with Abigail knows how special she is. She radiates light and love where ever she goes and has a heart of gold. Ever since she was a baby, I have called her my earth angel.
With her recent diagnosis and as her mother, I am asking for your help to please contribute what you can towards her journey with cancer. The funds will be used to allow her to take time off work and focus on her health and treatment. We are looking into a variety of cancer clinics in order to offer her the best outcome possible because she is so deserving of a life of longevity and living cancer free.
Another important part of Abigail’s healing is providing her with proper nutrients, wholesome foods, meditative yoga, massage therapy and other holistic treatments to strengthen her body which the funding will help support.
Your contribution is received with gratitude and appreciation and I thank you with all of my heart for your donation to help my daughter.
Organizer
Nicole Maurier
Organizer
Red Deer, AB
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Business

Business leaders decide it’s time to reduce the number of homeless in Red Deer

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News release from the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce

Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce to form Task Force on Homelessness in Red Deer

The Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce will be convening a Task Force of community and business leaders to address the issues of homelessness and identify actionable steps which can be taken to tackle this generational challenge in Red Deer.

“With the release of the City of Red Deer’s Point in Time (PIT) Report on homelessness last week we are very concerned and disappointed with the effectiveness of the strategies currently in place, and the urgency by which we need to turn this situation around within our city,” commented Scott Robinson CEO of the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce. “Clearly our current strategies are not enough, and we need to elevate the urgency by which we get things done to reduce the number of citizens who are without a place to live. The growing number of people who are homeless is not sustainable and is impacting on our sense of pride, safety and attractiveness of our city to business and industry.”

“We will share more about this Task Force and the next steps in the coming weeks. Time has run out to act with conviction, courage, and clarity. Our community and citizens deserve that from our community leaders, and we are ready to bring the business community and the urgency required to the table.”

Over the next 60 days, the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce will be reaching out to its business and social agency partners to build the Task Force on homelessness and establish a strategy to address the critical steps that need to be taken to reverse the trends and further our community’s vision as a vibrant and healthy city.

Matt Cassidy, Chamber Board President. remarked “Our Chamber is positioned to be the collaborative leader in connecting our business community, social agencies, and elected officials together, to find tangible progress on this complex issue. All businesses rely on the vibrancy of our community as they strive to be sustainable, innovative, or grow, and the results of the PIT Report indicate that we need to do much more. This task force will help hold our leaders accountable for the actionable progress needed and engage one another effectively.”

“In speaking with our membership, and those working closely with the vulnerable populations there are best practices and models for delivery that are successful in other parts of the world that we need to start  implementing” says Robinson. In addition, we need to look at ways that our private sector can get more involved and bring their expertise and strategic thinking to the table. As a collaborative community we also need to ensure that governments at all levels are delivering on their promises of affordable housing and eliminating barriers to expediting these investments.

Established in 1894 the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce is a non-partisan, collaborative business leader representing over 825 member businesses. As one of Red Deer’s oldest and most established membership organizations we are striving to build a vibrant community that fosters an environment where businesses can lead, be innovative, sustainable, and grow.

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