As the holiday season takes hold in the Bow Valley, a local charity is looking to make giving a two-way street.
Hope For Kids was created by Amanda and Paul Carrington in 2014 after the passing of their young son Ryan after a lengthy battle with cancer, and after the couple decided they wanted to help other valley families in the same situation.
That help includes supplying meals, grocery and gas cards, respite connecting families with services and paying for parking for medical appointments and accommodations.
This year, Dean Zimmer is on board, working on a social media campaign and to raise awareness of the charity.
“I want this to be the number one charity in Canmore,” he said, “top of mind for people. The objective is to get people and businesses excited and wanting to partner with us. I want to see a win-win-win for families, Hope For Kids and businesses.
“We want people and businesses to get excited about Hope For Kids; to donate, volunteer time and services, and create a promotional machine that’s good for the charity and for businesses. We want people to learn more about us and we hope this will lead to people offering donations, services and time to be part of this exciting charity.”
The plan is to not only attract interest and support for Hope For Kids, it’s to spread the joy and attracting donations that will be given away in turn.
“It means such a lot to every one of these families knowing that they have the support of their community behind them,” said Amanda Carrington. “Many of them are like the rest of us in the valley; they have no family close by and are in the midst of a family crisis and terrified of what their future may look like.
“Each family is unique in what they need at different stages during their journey, but all are very grateful for the help they receive.”
Thus far, Zimmer has Calgary Flames tickets, including food, pop and ice cream, for games into April, Sunshine ski passes, HiJinx gift certificates, Rocky Mountain Soap products, housing from Canmore Rotary, a Vegas trip from Can Bow Motors, Rocky Mountain Bagel certificates, and more that will be given away through social media (@HopeforKidsBV on Twitter).
“Everybody I’ve asked in the business community for support has offered more than requested,” said Zimmer. “It’s such a great community. People are so generous; you can’t say enough about being in the Bow Valley.”
Currently, Hope For Kids is assisting eight local families and this year will have a tree featured in Rotary’s Festival of Trees. Attendees are invited to place a decoration in memory of a lost loved one on the tree.
Other plans in the works include a fundraising auction of skills and talents of Bow Valley residents who have donated their time and expertise, a cooking program to make meals for families being assisted and a support group for families to meet with others in similar circumstances (volunteers needed).
For more information, or to donate, visit @HopeforkidsBV, call 403-688-0415 or email [email protected].
