The Coldest Night of the Year

On January 23, almost 4000 people in 38 cities people across the country will be walking in the Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser supporting charities that serve the hungry, homeless and hurting in communities across Canada.

Our local team in Kitchener/Waterloo walks to raise money for Ray of Hope, a Kitchener charity you've seen before on this blog.

This Saturday one of our local teams, Team Hope, will be at the Kitchener Market on the lower level taking $5 donations for the walk. With your $5 donation, you'll be donating a toque, hand lotion and enough cash to feed someone 2 meals for Ray of Hope.

Where else can you get value for a donation like that? 

Of course, if your heart directs you to give $20 or more, a charitable receipt will be issued to you, along with out heartfelt thanks and gratitude.

So Team Hope is eager to see you this Saturday February 9 on the lower level of the Kitchener Market to send a little love, a little food and a little warmth to Ray of Hope and the people they serve in our community. If you can't make it out, we certainly won't complain if you'd like to donate to the team online here... we'll even make sure we donate a hat and lotion on your behalf!

On Being Poor

Stephanie is an amazing woman I've worked with closely this last year. She's a hard-working mother, often working over 50 hours a week between 2 jobs to keep her family afloat. I asked her to send me some her thoughts on what life is like as a member of the working poor and this is what she had to say: 

Being poor is hoping the toothache goes away.

Being poor is knowing your kid goes to friends’ houses but never has friends over to yours.

Being poor is thinking $8 an hour is a really good deal.

Being poor is relying on people who don’t give a damn about you.

Being poor is not taking the job because you can’t find someone you trust to watch your kids.

Being poor is the police busting into the apartment right next to yours.

Being poor is your kid’s teacher assuming you don’t have any books in your home.

Being poor is six dollars short on the utility bill and no way to close the gap.

Being poor is knowing you work as hard as anyone, anywhere.

Being poor is answering the interviewer's illegal question because if you say you don't have to answer that you know you'll never get the job.

Being poor is people surprised to discover you’re not actually stupid.

Being poor is people surprised to discover you’re not actually lazy.

Being poor is never buying anything someone else hasn’t bought first.

Being poor is picking the 10 cent ramen instead of the 12 cent ramen because that’s two extra packages for every dollar.

Being poor is getting tired of people wanting you to be grateful.

Being poor is knowing you’re being judged.

Being poor is a cough that doesn’t go away.

Being poor is knowing where the shelter is.

Being poor is people who have never been poor wondering why you choose to be so.

Being poor is knowing how hard it is to stop being poor.

Being poor is seeing how few options you have.

Being poor is running in place.

Remembering Kelsey

Last week I had a morning I wasn't expecting. I woke up in the morning, ready to start my day and quickly learned that the body of a murdered young woman had a name... and it was a name I knew. And loved.

Kelsey Felker was a beautiful girl, inside and out. I first met her through running the FoodLove clothing closet and over time, she became a donor as well as a recipient. I've watched her give food to others when she didn't have enough of her own, I've watched her shake as she tried to give up the drugs she was so dependant on and I've hugged her as she sobbed over a life she thought she'd never have a chance to see.

Tonight, our community has the chance to come together and pay respect to a young woman who would have found another route in life, who would have made a real impact on Waterloo Region...

if only she had the chance

Whether you knew her or not, I implore everyone in KW to join us at 9 pm tonight, Kitchener City Hall to make a stand, show support and send this young woman a farewell befitting her generous and compassionate soul.




Kelsey Felker Memorial
Monday February 4, 2013
Kitchener City Hall
9 pm