Thompson Nicola Cariboo United Way

Come join in the family tradition at the 12^th annual Wildlights Festival at the BC Wildlife Park.  This year promises to be the best ever with over 500,000 lights including lighted theme displays!  This year’s “Symphony of Lights”, featuring a nightly display of fireworks and lights synchronized to music, should thrill everyone in the family.  Uncle Chris the Clown will be here nightly to entertain the kids.  You can take a ride on the Wildlife Express Train, or a wagon ride to the North Pole, or have a hot chocolate by a crackling fire and don’t forget about getting lost in our giant maze!  You can enjoy a scrumptious meal in the Blue Heron Café.

Wildlights opens on December 11^th and runs through January 3^rd from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm nightly except Christmas Day.

The CP Holiday Train rolled into town tonight just before 7 pm. A raucous crowd was on hand already revved up with hot chocolate, hamburgers and hot dogs. Thanks to the Lions Club and Van Houte Coffee. Now if we could just do something about the wind!!

Santa and elves were there and The Odds and Sean Verrault from Wide Mouth Mason.

$19,000 was raised for Kamloops Food Bank including a cheque for $5000 from CP Rail. We also learned that Ken Haddad was the Grand Pouba of CP in these parts, that will be good for laughs tomorrow. What a great time and United Way is very happy to partner with CP Rail. Congratulations on being such great Kamloopsians!!

As a follow up to a previous post: http://blog.unitedwaytnc.ca/?p=1828 more storage was needed to house the remainder of the beds donated by Northern Trailer. Thank you to Byron McCorkell and Dave Freeman of the City of Kamloops who arranged storage for 3 more shipping containers of beds at the old City depot on Mission Flats Road. Special mention to Dave who hauled quite a few beds himself in his business attire.

Thank you City of Kamloops!

Last night joined by our top 20 campaigns, the Silent Choir from McGowan Park Elementary School, press and invited guest we closed our 2009 United Way Campaign by reaching a record breaking

$1, 617, 000.00

Thank you to all our supporters, friends, volunteers and staff.

Brenda Aynsley (left), executive director of the Thompson-Nicola-Cariboo United Way, joins Terry-Lynn Stone, founder of the Gur Singh Invitational Golf Tournament, Gur Singh, Dr. Richard Brownlee, Manju Singh and Dave Marr, president of the Kamloops Brain Injury Association, to accept a $130,000 donation raised at the annual tournament and celebrity survival dinner.

A group of 4th year Nursing students followed up their Volunteer Expo at TRU for United Way this week. A “Tree of Hope” was at their volunteer event to display the names of all that were generous enough to give their time. It has now been planted at the TRU Daycare to offer some much-needed shade to the little ones there.

This tree and it’s plaque symbolize the hope that we have for our future and a community that embraces and supports all its members.  The partnership between the TRU School of Nursing and the Thompson Nicola Cariboo United Way is a great example of how we can create a better place to live by working together.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

03/12/2009

Thompson Nicola Cariboo United Way

“Closing Ceremonies”

I believe in possibility

As part of our long-term commitment to connecting people and resources in the community, Thompson Nicola Cariboo United Way will be hosting our “closing ceremonies” Thursday, December 10th 2009, 5:00 pm at the Panorama Room in the International Building, Thompson Rivers University.

United Way Campaign Cabinet, McGowan Park Elementary Sign Language Club and representatives from our top 21 campaigns will be on hand to participate in our “parade of nations”, take their place on the podium and uniquely announce their individual campaign accomplishments. Come see who gets bronze, silver or gold medals. All the teams have been “swifter, higher and stronger” in their goals to make a safe supportive community for everyone. We need you to cheer us on and celebrate the community success that depends on all of us!

United Way contact:

Melodie Grabner

Director Resource Development

250 372 9933

melodie@unitedwaytnc.ca

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The United Way campaign committee topped their fundraising efforts this year with a get together at Heroes Pub on campus. Thanks to the committee, staff and students for their fantastic efforts on behalf of their community. TRU truly cares about their community.

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VOLUNTEER

Post taken from http://tinybuddha.com/

Good ideas for New Year Resolutions especially around volunteering

“When I do good, I feel good, when I do bad, I feel bad and that is my religion.” ~Abraham Lincoln

It’s no secret that we live in a world that’s obsessed with wealth, fame and celebrities. Some call it the “age of narcissism.”  I’m not sure I want to label or judge our current circumstances. Instead like Gandhi suggests, I’ll put my focus on being the change I wish to see in the world.

I’m planning to mix things up a bit for 2010 and I invite you to do the same. Instead of creating New Year’s Resolutions that are all about me, I’m going to make mine all about others. Instead of trying to increase my own success I’m going to set others up to succeed.

My personal idea was inspired by CNN’s “Hero of the Year 2009” given to one ordinary person making an extraordinary difference. CNN’s panel chose Efren Penaflorida as the winner for 2009. He received $100,000 for his organization. You can read about all 10 nominees here.

Being an every-day hero does far more for you than you may imagine. Some benefits of volunteering include:

• Volunteer’s develop a “helper’s high” due to a link between kindness and a gene that releases dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter in the brain.
• Volunteers report feeling energetic, warm, calmer and greater self-worth.
• Volunteers enjoy being helpful because it’s as pleasurable as eating a chocolate chip cookie.
• Volunteers are more loving and less angry, resentful or fearful.
• Volunteers increase their own level of happiness due to the law of cause and effect: What goes around comes around.

My husband and I currently support The Smile Train, Wounded Warriors, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. This year I want to do more. I’m still in the process of deciding what more will look like; I’ll have my decision and plan ready to put into action on January 1st, 2010.

The following are other ideas to inspire you to begin.

1. Provide a box at your school, work or place of worship and ask others to make food contributions. Distribute it monthly.
2. Daily save the change from your purse or pockets and donate it to a favorite charity at the end of each month.
3. Begin a warm coat drive.
4. Join efforts to preserve and protect the environment.
5. Donate cat and dog food to an animal shelter. (Call and ask what is needed.)
6. Collect used books and make a donation.
7. Donate flowers to nursing homes.
8. Donate professional services including: teaching classes, giving a workshop, consulting and coaching services or professional speaking.
9. Teach someone to read.
10. Begin a giving circle with your friends. Every month one person hosts a “girl’s night in” by having a potluck. Each person donates $20 to a chosen cause.
11. Offer to clean or paint someone’s home.
12. Donate your time to a preschool. Collect educational toys.
13. Cook dinner for shut-ins.
14. Collect prom dresses for underprivileged youth.
15. Offer to do manicures and pedicures in a children’s hospital.

A final option:

Make the words, “How can I help” part of your everyday vocabulary. Because actions speak louder than words. Because we want to make the world a better place for everyone.

White Buffalo Aboriginal Health Society

and Resource Centre

GIFT GIVERS NEW

FAMILY EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM

OVERVIEW

WHAT IS THE PROGRAM?

The Gift Givers Program remains focused on reducing the number of Aboriginal children in care by helping to strengthen

Aboriginal families who are impacted by issues of family violence, addictions, generational abuse and trauma.

The program includes groups for individuals and families. Our hope is to empower parents and assist them in recognizing and understanding the dynamics of abuse. The aim is to improve their parenting skills and methods.

The Gift Giver Program will continue to provide referrals to appropriate

addictions treatment programs, including the necessary one-to-one

counselling sessions and post-treatment follow-up.

Issues addressed in group sessions will include:

Self-care Setting Healthy Boundaries

Communication Skills Reducing Anxiety and Stress

Dealing with Change Addictions

Trauma Parenting Skills

Violence and Abuse in Our Families

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM?

The program is open to all individuals/families who are ready to take responsibility

for their choices related to their own and their children’s well-being.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Interested/committed individuals may be referred by MCFD. The counselling staff

at White Buffalo may choose to accept self-referred individuals who meet the criteria

of the program. All participants will be required to complete an assessment process

to define eligibility and suitability.

**Please call in advance to set up an introductory appointment/assessment**

We are located at 517A Tranquille Road

IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS: Call Barb or Kim at 250-554-1176.