Sharing the Wealth and the Good Fortune

Originally posted November 2013

I never claim to be politically correct or socially adept at the best of times so if my terminology is not what is currently acceptable I truly apologize.  I never mean to insult, diminish or marginalize anyone.  Please bear with me.

My parents lived a comfortable but modest life. One thing that was very important to them and what they tried to instill in us kids is the sense of community and to help where we saw a need. I hope this small post in some way helps.  Thanks Dad, Mom, Irene and all of my family for being examples of good neighbours I aspire to become.

People struggle in our community(ies). Every day, every hour, in every way.  I don't pretend to know the circumstances at which a person arrives at any point of their lives. I try not to judge - simply to understand, feel compassion and help when I have the means to do so.

I know I am not alone here. 

Each one of you see situations daily that make your heart sing or ache. Powerful or powerless. Emboldened or tentative. A sure path or flailing around wondering what to do.

In the city where I reside there are organizations that help.  Persons, pets, processes, ideas. There are many of them who rely on us - the public to support their efforts.  Cash is tight, volunteers are desired - nay, in demand and the supplies for resources of all types are slim.

So it leads me to wonder what I can do? What can we do for our community?

Bless Google, Twitter and the telephone... I can put in words and BOOM, out pops information.

Now we are headed into the Holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa - and so many more), our minds often lead us to thinking of those who need us. Those in our family, in our community, in our society, sharing the planet.

Those by my definition doesn't necessarily mean people - animals, initiatives, etc all need our help.

Cripes I've said a lot - where's the meat of this post???  Yeah, yeah - you must be new to ask this question.  I RAMBLE... A LOT!

I have compiled (and will add to it) a list of groups who need our help. Some are wish lists for items, some are requests for monies, some are asking for your time. Take a look, take a moment, take some time to help. THIS IS NOT A COMPLETE LIST - Not even close.  Just a start.

Please note that I did not include National Charitable Organizations - not to infer that they don't need help. They have lots of great PR folks who get their word out. I thought I would focus on more local organizations or local chapters of national charities.

There are many. Don't be overwhelmed, please read through and hopefully discover one that will touch your heart. I have attempted to group them in categories for easier reading and is in alphabetical order by category.

Cheers,
Lori

Halifax Local Groups/Links/Requests

(Updated November 27, 2015)

Addiction Recovery

The Marguerite Centre - Ways to Help
They currently have 10 residents at the Centre.
Specific Items needed - personal items such as body wash, shampoo and conditioner, towels, facecloths, make-up, pens and journals, slippers (size 6 – 10), gloves, mitts and scarves.
Alcare Place - General Information

Food/Kitchens

Feed Nova Scotia - Ways to Help
Hope Cottage - Ways to Help
Feed Others Of Dartmouth (F.O.O.D) - Link to News Article with Info (CH)
Parker Street - Ways to Help
General Listing of places in HRM - List

General

Demetreous Lane - Phone: (902) 229-3722
Brunswick Street Mission - Ways to Help
Fairview Family Centre - Ways to Help

Health

On the Front Line Society - Ways to Help
NS Chapter of the CDN Mental Health Association - Ways to Help
Halifax Sexual Health Centre - Ways to Help
NS Chapter of Easter Seals - Ways to Help
NS Chapter of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation - General Information

Literacy

Dartmouth Learning Network - General Information

Men

Camp Hill Veterans Centre are looking for:
PJ's - Sizes S, M, L, XL
Socks - Non Slip
Mittens, Scarves, Hats

They can be dropped off at the Security Desk before 4pm Monday to Friday.

Where is Camp Hill?
5955 Veterans Memorial Lane Halifax, NSB3H 2E1

Pets/Animals

Nova Scotia SPCA - Ways to Help
Hope for Wildlife - How to Donate
Bide aWhile - How to Donate

She's my Pitty Pillow

Litters N Critters - How to Donate
Nova Scotia Homeless Pet Project - General Info

Recreation

Cole Harbour Parks and Trails Association - Donate

 

Shelters

Out of the Cold Emergency Winter Shelter - Ways to Help
Shelter Nova Scotia - Ways to Help

Facilities Operated by Shelter Nova Scotia:
Metro Turning Point (for men): 902-420-3282
Barry House (for women): 902-422-8324

Salvation Army (for men): 902-422-2363

Women/Youth/Children

Adsum House - Wish List
Supportive Housing for Young Mothers (SHYM) - General Info
Stepping Stones - Wish List & Ways to Give
Hope Blooms - General Info
Phoenix Youth - Ways to Help
Laing House - Ways to Help
Alice Housing - Ways to Help
Youth Project NS - Ways to Help
Valley Child Development Association; S.M.I.L.E. - Ways to Help
Bryony House - Ways to Help
Avalon Centre - General Info
Alex's Safe Harbour - General Info
Junior Achievement (JA) Nova Scotia - Volunteering

The Halifax Regional Municipality also has a volunteer opportunities page that lists local organizations that need your help. 

To be somewhat selfish here - Helping others helps me!

Cheers,
Lori

Being Thoughtful with Complaining

Beg pardon for the multiple "serious" or "maudlin" posts recently.  Sometimes you start with an idea and your mood then dictates the actual outcome.

Ready???  Let's start the week with positivity. Cripes, catch phrases make me cringe but there it sits... Positivity. Oh and by the way, sometimes my positivity is a bit arse-up.

Before you grumble with me, let me explain my reason for writing this.

I just spent the last weekend in Maine where my biggest concern was finding a hotel Friday night.  It wasn't how could I afford it, it was a "too many people, not enough rooms" issue.  So while I was moaning and gasping about the "blue bathroom" there were hundreds of thousands of people in peril in the Philippines with Typhoon Haiyan.

While I ate, drank and shopped for Christmas gifts - people perished.

While I strolled, laughed and flicked my hair - people lost everything.

"What the heck is your point Lori?" I know you are waiting for it.

I live a charmed life... I moan, I drip, I bluster, I complain, but in the end, I have everything that I need - nay, want.

We live a charmed life... If our biggest complaint is that the bus wasn't on time or that the coffee is cold... well, we don't have it too rough.

Does this mean that we should never moan again about our annoyances? Nope. Finding issue with things often means change for the better - history serves that complaining leads to both small and enormous change.

But pick thoughtfully what you find issue with...

If you have some spare cash (or can do without coffee today), maybe give to either/both of these organizations to help those harmed by Typhoon Haiyan.  You can do it right from your Cell/iPhone/BlackBerry/Android.

Unicef Canada - Text GIVE to 45678 to donate $10
Red Cross Canada - Text REDCROSS to 30333 to donate $5

The Canadian Government (and in the case of Unicef - Loblaws) is matching donations to a $ maxmimum.  Every bit helps.

Cheers,
Lori

The next post will likely be a baking/beer consuming one - much lighter and frivolous.

Twelve Years

Let me preface this post with some commentary.

Memories blur and fade. Memories are from a perspective. Everyone's memories of the exact same situation are unique.

Death is tough. Everyone mourns their own way, recalls it their own way, understands it their own way.

Ok... Well. Here we go! So begin-eth a story or a recollection. Stick with me ok? It'll be a ramble and likely I won't be able to eloquently articulate the point of this post. But frig... I rarely do. 

Twelve years ago at around this time I was losing my best friend. Not because of a fight or because they were moving to Christmas Island but because after what seems like a lifetime of illness, they were stepping away. 

This best friend was my brother Brud. Now his name was Calvin, but I called him Brud from my first words to the last ones I ever spoke to him. He was 17 years older and while we cranked at each other sometimes like siblings do, we had a friendship that couldn't be broken. 

I could tell the stories where he and Glen (that's my brother and also my best friend) created a fake will where they would get everything of my Dad's and I get the outboard motor. Not even the shagging boat!  Or the time he gave me a 20 year old bottle of Hi-Karate for my 18th birthday. Or... Or... Or...

My therapist loves these stories. She has a house in the Caymans on these stories. 

Right! Off on a ramble. Let's get back to it... Brud was smart. Super-de-duper smart. He was practical, pragmatic and most of all courageous. A dry sense of humour never hurt either. He knew right from wrong, followed his conscience, tried never to hurt a soul and was an excellent human being. 

When the time came and Brud was in hospital, he decided enough was enough.  After a lifetime of having his life dictated by illness, he took "the bull by the horns" and dictated his passing. We accepted (understood, supported) his decision and waited with him. And let me tell you, there wasn't anywhere else I could have been. He made a choice to let his life end. No more meds, no more surgeries, no more...

Why am I sharing this part of my life with you, anonymous person?

Because some day, you will face a decision, maybe your own, perhaps a loved one. You need to know what you want, you need to learn what they want, you will need to honour what they want.

Because at the end of the day, you have to be at peace with the choice you make.  

People can tell you there's a right or wrong answer, there really isn't. Like memories, choice for one person won't be exactly the same as for someone else. 

But the important thing is that there is a choice...

We were likely laughing at our Dad... We did that a lot.

Fear

Every moment of every day someone, somewhere is facing their biggest fear. Some run towards and take it head on, some turn their back and wait for it to blow by and some run away like the hounds of hell are nipping at their heels.

I own a plethora of fears. Some are so deep and private I cannot even think of them, much less share with others. Some I talk about ad nauseum (clowns, certain condiments, rodents, the dark).

Typically I have a sense of urgency to share with people different parts of my life - a slip and fall, a tumble off a bike, ridiculous thoughts while waiting for trick-or-treaters, a nice meal at a restaurant... beer or coffee issues.

Right now though my sharing is minimal (I know, your first question is "well then why the hell are you writing in your blog?" followed closely by, "christ, I follow you on Twitter - you share a crap-load there"). I am not trying be coy with a passive aggressive post, just to simply explain that a fear of mine has rendered me... inept at sharing parts of me that I could not so long ago.

Please be patient, I'll return to this and to myself shortly. It's all for the greater good or rather... my greater good (obscure Hot Fuzz movie reference there).

For those who didn't notice that I wasn't updating here very frequently... carry on.