What's Happening in Calgary

"Many Hands Make Work Light" or
how one Progress Club turned a used clothing drive into a city-wide charity event
Submitted by Barbara Clarke

In December 2002, CPC Calgary North launched "Helping Hands", a new charity drive benefiting the Calgary Drop-In Centre and The Salvation Army Community and Family Services.

"The Drop-In Centre tends to be forgotten during the holiday season, especially if the winter is mild," explains Calgary North member and Helping Hands committee chairman, Gary Nakamura, "but the need for warm clothing, cash and personal items is just as great at this time of year as any other."

The Salvation Army will attest to another area of need:  gift and toy donations for older youths.  Although Christmas toy drives flourish, kids in the 9 - 15 year range, especially the boys, are frequently overlooked.

To help fill these voids in the city's less-fortunate community, Calgary North club ultimately partnered with The Breeze 103.1 FM Radio, SkyXpress Airlines, Mark's Work Wearhouse, The West Coast Outlaw Hotel, Big Mountain Ski Resort, and the Canadian Western Bank.

"This program started out as a used coat drive for the Drop-In Centre, which we did two years ago," says Calgary North's Bob Lockhart, "but we wanted to find a way to involve the community-at-large, increase public awareness and participation and also give the Canadian Progress Club some profile.  One of the members in our club is a partner in SkyXpress and offered to donate some free trips to Whitefish. We ran with that."

After meeting with the Salvation Army and the Calgary Drop-In Centre, the "Helping Hands" initiative was underway in less than three weeks.  First, the committee invited the participation of Calgary's newest radio station, The Breeze 103.1 FM.  New to the airwaves, the station had not yet established the community project tie-ins enjoyed by its competitors.  The affiliation proved mutually beneficial as the charity drive was given great media exposure.  Mark's Work Wearhouse, which had past involvement in used clothing drives, was also brought on board.  Its ten stores across Calgary provided drop-off bins for donations and prominently displayed signage highlighting the two charities and the CPC logo.  All donors were eligible for one of five weekend packages for two with return airfare from Calgary to Whitefish, Montana, courtesy of SkyXpress Airlines and The Breeze 103.1.  The trips included a two-night stay at The Westcoast Outlaw Hotel in Kalispell and two days of skiing at Big Mountain, Whitefish. The Canadian Western Bank agreed to collect cash donations and display posters at all four Calgary branches.  Funds collected went directly into the "Helping Hands" account.  An article by Calgary Sun reporter, Pablo Fernandez, provided local press coverage.

The donation of toys, gifts, warm clothing and personal items was tremendous.  "We collected less cash than we had hoped for," admits Bob Lockhart, "but we partnered with the bank fairly late in the game.  Next year we'll know to get the chartered banks involved earlier in the season."

And there's no doubt "Helping Hands" will be back for another season.  Breeze radio has already indicated its commitment to next year's project and Mark's Work Wearhouse is eager to continue its participation in future drives.  Gary Nakamura and Bob Lockhart are meeting with the public relations co-ordinator from the Drop-In Centre to start preparing for next year's program.  The plan is to put together corporate packages and try to bring a few other large companies on board.  After all, more hands have more reach when it comes to helping better the community.

Pictured left, members of CPC Calgary North lend helping hands to sort donations at the Salvation Army warehouse.

From left to right are: Mark Kotris, Gary Nakamura, Ken Wallewein, Calgary North President Dwayne Austin, and Bob Lockhart.

"Helping Hands has been a wonderful experience for me personally," says Bob Lockhart. "I found this charity drive very rewarding and satisfying.  In many ways it reinforced the real meaning of 'the spirit of Christmas'".