These Canadians found creative ways to donate to World Vision through the Gift Catalogue.
St. Mark's Co-operative Preschool
Dundas, Ontario
Sue Anderson, a teacher at St. Mark's Co-operative Preschool believes that children are never too young to help the community. Last May, her preschool held a "trike-a-thon" and raised $2,027 to help purchase a deep-water well through World Vision's Gift Catalogue. With pledges from friends and family, the 53 youngsters, age two to five, cycled 10 laps of the parking lot. When they reached the finish line, the kids were "pooped," remembers Sue.
Bible Study Group
North Langely, British Columbia
Last Christmas, one of the Bible study groups from North Langley Community Church in British Columbia wanted to raise money for charity.
When group leaders Jim and Marion Wiens suggested purchasing items through World Vision's Gift Catalogue, the group immediately caught on to the idea. The group raised close to $1,000, and some members became child sponsors.
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They wanted to feel like they were helping the kids overseas," says Jim. "It just seemed like a really practical way to give," adds Marion.
Ash Chimney Sweeps
Dundas, Ontario
The owners of Ash Chimney Sweeps Inc. in Dundas, Ontario, use the World Vision Gift Catalogue to purchase meaningful Christmas presents for their 12 employees. To make the gifts memorable, they hunt for ornaments to symbolize how the donations will be helping families in need. Last year, the owners purchased school supplies from the catalogue for an employee who was studying part-time and gave him a giant pencil ornament. For an avid fisherman in the group, they purchased part of a fish farm and gave him a glass fish ornament. "I just love that they can hang an ornament up every year to remember that they've helped someone," says office manager Denise Beard.
Ontario Egg Producers
Mississauga, Ontario In March, the Ontario Egg Producers celebrated their 40th anniversary in Mississauga, Ontario. Before the gala dinner, organizers placed decorative chickens on the tables, hoping to auction them for about $40 each. Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, a long-time supporter of World Vision, encouraged the group to do more. Some farmers and industry partners shouted pledges as high as $700. By the end of the night, the group had raised more than $6,000 to purchase hens and roosters from the World Vision Gift Catalogue.
Click here to visit the online Gift Catalogue.
