Can Twitter Buy a Stove?

So the lovely Jodi (aka karmicevolution) and I had a meeting today at ROOF to clear up some final details with our event. We're happy to say that things are moving along swimmingly, we're so excited!

During the course of the meeting Jodi asked Katie, the wonderful and exuberant Program Manager at ROOF if there is anything the shelter needs that we can help them with. Jokingly, Katie tells us their stove died yesterday. Now ROOF runs a program called The Lunchbox where they provide catering for meetings that teaches their kids skills in food preparation at the same time. Along with dinners, special events and other things, a stove in this shelter is a necessity. In unison, we tell her "We can probably do that!"

Fast forward 2 hours and about 20 tweets later, Jodi and I were off to City Appliance in Cambridge who provided us with a very nice refurbished gas stove at a great price.

So thanks Twitter, for once again stepping up to the challenge and helping us meets the needs of this wonderful agency.  The stove will be delivered tomorrow afternoon and once again, the kids at ROOF will be preparing and eating hot meals.

50 Teens 4 Christmas

Last night I officially announced the next FoodLove event, 50 Teens 4 Christmas to be held for homeless and vulnerable teens at ROOF. Since then, I (and my amazing friend and chief smilemaker at 5 Dollar Project, Jodi) have been working non-stop.

What started as a regular FoodLove event with lots of homemade goodies, a mini concert and a few gift cards has turned into a MASSIVE event involving the same homemade goodies, motivational speakers, a fundraising raffle (of which proceeds will be split between 5 Dollar Project and 50 Teens 4 Christmas), gifts bags stuffed to the brim and more! I can't thank Jodi enough for her hard work and using the many, many contacts and friendships she has to make this project so awesome.

We are looking for donations specifically for the Christmas gift bags right now. We want to give these kids slightly used or new jackets, sweatshirts, toques, mittens, long distance phone cards, gift cards to go shopping, easily transportable and healthy food, personal hygiene products and REAL Christmas gifts like books, makeup and other things that all normal teens want.

We would love to see Waterloo Region rally around us and give these teens a Christmas to remember. You can do this by collecting items for the gift bags, asking your workplace for donations for our fundraising raffle, buying a raffle ticket (will be available soon!), spreading the word AND buying Christmas cards and getting them signed by as many people as you can!

Watch the #50teens4christmas hashtag and follow @FoodLoveKW and @5dollarproject on Twitter to keep up with all the latest details.

With all of our resources, we can make this a Christmas to remember!