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At Your Service: Grandmothers helping grandmothers, and saving the world, too

Kaleo needs your help to make their Christmas shop a big success with the kids ... and their moms.

What would the world be without grandmothers to make it all better? Ask the Stephen Lewis Foundation that same question and you would get a good story to hear over tea.

For 15 years, Grandmothers of Alberta for a New Generation (better known as the GANG) have been working to help grandmothers in Africa who are raising their grandchildren orphaned by the AIDS pandemic. They call it the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, and there sadly is no shortage of work.

Since this campaign started in 2006, the GANG has raised more than $1 million for the cause, and they’ve been doing it in some amazingly grandmotherly ways. It’s a highly organized and active crew with 125-plus members in the Edmonton area. Their major fundraisers each year would otherwise be the Fabulous Fabric Frenzy and the Shakers and Makers Craft Market, though COVID-19 has precluded the possibilities of them happening for the last year-and-a-half.

“We haven't been able to do that, obviously, but these sales [which we hope by next year we'll be able to resume] … they raised typically between $30,000 to $40,000 in a year in that one event,” offered Judy Mill, a member since 2016.

Its Actions for Africa campaign also raised more than $30,000 over the last few months as a celebration of the anniversary. This campaign saw members collect pledges for taking on various personal challenges: walking 15 river valley trails, planting 15 rows of potatoes for the food bank, and knitting squares for blankets to donate to local shelters, for example.

Other initiatives have included pop-up fabric shops and garage sales. The GANG members, intrepid and resourceful beyond expectation, have also re-opened their online store at edmgrandmothers.org/welcome-to-our-online-store.

"We will not rest until the African grandmothers rest," is the group’s motto, and they mean it. They continue with verve and fervor to help support more than 125 community-based organizations in the 15 countries in Africa that have been most impacted by the AIDS pandemic.

Mill sees her work with the GANG in much the same way as her ongoing work as a nurse because education is as much a goal.

“I think it's very gratifying and rewarding. In doing that, I feel like I'm doing my part as a global citizen. I particularly like the global aspect of the work as I was a researcher doing work with HIV in Africa actually for my PhD work,” she noted. “For me, this is a very perfect continuation of a contribution because I know the situation in sub-Saharan Africa."

To learn more about the organization, visit grandmotherscampaign.org.

Painting the town purple for SAIF

St. Albert Stop Abuse in Families is spending the month partnering with local businesses to help fund its programs to ensure local families can access its counseling services without financial barriers.

Throughout November, SAIF will be “splashing” St. Albert in purple as numerous partnered businesses, agencies, and destinations have pledged their support. In turn, SAIF is asking the public to support these businesses, and support hundreds of local families at the same time.

Also, for the first time ever, the city raised the SAIF Paint the Town Purple flag in front of St. Albert Place on Friday, where it will fly in recognition of Prevention of Family Violence month.

Visit stopabuse.ca/paint-the-town.

Kaleo's gifts to the kids

You, too, can play Santa with a donation to a local charity.

Kaleo Collective is building up a big stocking of a special event for hundreds of local children and their moms. The organization supports single mothers with enrichment programs and it also has a fun seasonal event coming up.

Little Santas lets the tykes into a no-charge, COVID-safe store where they can choose a special Christmas gift for their moms. Last year’s event brought in more than 200 children, but that number for 2021 is expected to be more than double that.

“Our community of single moms has grown dramatically and so has our need for gifts this year,” said founder and executive director Layna Haley. “This event would help make the holidays even more special for these families in need. Helping a child give a gift is a meaningful and magical experience that helps them grow up into kind, compassionate, and empathetic adults.”

Kaleo is asking the public to adopt a Little Santa by donating $50 via its website at kaleocollective.ca. Unwrapped gift donations will also be welcomed at the following stores:

  • Saltwater Bay Boutique (both St. Albert and Kingsway Mall locations)
  • Fine Lines Medical
  • Bella Maas (both St. Albert and Sherwood Park locations)
  • Simone & Ivy
  • Socrates Family Restaurant

This year's Little Santas takes place on Saturday, Dec. 11. Before that, Kaleo needs contributions from the community to make it a success.

“For children, giving a gift is just as heart-warming and important as it is for parents. There’s something very special in an act that gives kids a chance to show love and appreciation. It’s what the holidays are all about.”

Kidney fundraiser to make everyone smile

Helping to fund research into kidney disease is one big reason to smile. The Kidney Foundation of Canada has a lottery that is going to make one lucky Albertan smile big and for another reason entirely.

It’s called Cash for Christmas and it’s a 50/50 draw with kidney and transplant patients in the province at its heart. Kidney disease affects more than 450,000 Albertans, and more than 2,600 of them receive dialysis treatment while waiting for a kidney transplant.

“Living with kidney disease and waiting for a transplant imposes a significant economic, physical, and mental-health burden on Albertans, their families, and support networks,” explained Flavia Robles, the executive director for the Kidney Foundation’s Northern Alberta and The Territories Branch.

“Our organization serves this vulnerable community by purchasing groceries for patients and their families, funding critical medication, supporting transportation options for their medical appointments and lifesaving dialysis treatment, and everything in between that supports better health outcomes.”

The pandemic has only made things more difficult, she continued, as most patients are immunocompromised because of their kidney health or immunosuppression medication.

“Patients face an extremely challenging financial reality under normal circumstances and rely on our program, even more now, to help pay for basic and essential needs. We are the last resource. If we don’t help patients, there is nowhere else for them to turn.”

Tickets will be available only at CashForChristmas.ca until 10 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18.


Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

About the Author: Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Ecology and Environment Reporter at the Fitzhugh Newspaper since July 2022 under Local Journalism Initiative funding provided by News Media Canada.
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