Projects

Kids in the Kitchen

March 2007

A great time was had by all who participated in our Kids in the Kitchen event at the Creative Kids Museum on Saturday March 24th.  We handed out 53 take home packages and a total of 73 children participated in at least one activity during the two hour event. The guest speakers all delivered a consistent message on the importance of healthy eating and fitness to children’s health. 

Kathleen Polet, guest nutritionist, had the kids jumping and flexing their muscles as she reviewed the food groups and their impact on the body.

Will Kwong, Stampede Casino Executive Chef, told the children that he loved cooking because he could always make people happy with his creations. He demonstrated the preparation of Sandwich Tubes and then impressed both children and parents with several delicious variations on this traditional wrap. The taste-testing was enjoyed by all!

Jason Parker, 2006 Olympic Silver Medalist, gave a truly inspiring presentation with photos from his childhood and the games in Turin. He shared his experiences as an overweight child interested in hockey but weak in skills other than skating. He then described his fascination with speed skating on TV and his hard work to try to imitate the professionals without the proper training facilities. He explained many challenges he faced to accomplish his childhood dream of skating in the Olympics. Jason encouraged the kids to set goals, keep their bodies healthy in order to meet these goals, and to pursue their dreams. After his formal presentation, Jason signed many autographs and answered questions from all ages, from toddlers to grandparents.

After the presentations, the children enjoyed many hands-on activities including colouring worksheets, making activity medals, and assembling yogurt parfaits and fruit smoothies. Kathleen Polet taught the kids about portion sizes, while New Member Trina Koops shared her nutrition experience by teaching children to read and compare food labels.

Thanks to Cartoon Network, we had a special Kids in the Kitchen prize pack to offer in a draw. It included an apron, oven mitts, measuring cups and a bowl.  The children all went home with tote bags filled with information on the JLC, the Junior Chefs program, recipes for the day’s treats, a special JLC bookmark, two Health Canada fitness magazines, the new Canada Food Guide, the “My Amazing Little Cookbook”- and more!

We would like to thank the Canada Safeway store at Glenmore Landing for the donation of the 75 reusable tote bags for the kids. Special thanks to Terry Guidry for her fabulous creativity in designing the bookmarks for the kids, the draw tickets, and the KITK aprons for our volunteers. Everyone in attendance (including our volunteers!) learned new tools needed to lead healthy, active lives. Educating children and parents on nutrition is an important proactive step in the process of raising awareness and attempting to reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated health issues.

Talbots 3rd Annual Clothing Drive 

October 2007

The 3^rd Annual JLC/Talbots Clear Out Your Closets Clothing Drive was an overwhelming success!  With 7,100 pounds of clothing being donated we well - exceeded last year’s collection of 4,500 pounds! The basement room of the JLC was filled to capacity - bags and boxes of clothing, shoes, purses and even luggage were piled up shoulder high.  

Our initial thoughts were “How on earth will we get this sorted!”  But of course, with typical JLC determination, woman-power and the invaluable assistance of volunteers from the Walk In Closet, this feat was accomplished in just four clothing sorts, or a total of 117 volunteer hours! 

Once the clothing was sorted and bagged, it had to be delivered!  Twenty bags of clothing plus several carloads of pajamas and luggage were delivered to the Awo Taan Healing Lodge.  Several deliveries were also made to the Walk In Closet.

Fortunately, the Women In Need Society sent over an empty truck which we filled with 100+ orange bags - it was quite a sight to see!  In letters from and conversations with the recipient agencies, we know that the clothing and pajamas were well received and all agencies commented on the high quality of the clothing. 

A huge thank you goes out to the Calgary community for its generosity.  A special thank you to Terry Guidry for her administrative assistance with photocopying, gathering supplies, etc. and another thank you to the volunteers who gave of their time; a total of 43 volunteers working over 198 hours in seven shifts, to help make this project the success it was! 

Teen Christmas Stockings 

December 2007

We did it!  At our December General Meeting 500 Christmas Stockings (actually Santa-red tote bags) were stuffed by our members, guests and representatives of the thirteen agencies to which we donated the stockings.  The meeting was held at the Storehouse-39-3-10 offices and warehouse, and after munching on some delicious and festive snacks, the agencies introduced themselves and shared with members the impact that these stockings would have on their teen clients. 

Then it was off to the warehouse where we had set up two assembly lines – one for filling 263 girls stockings and one for 237 boys stockings.  Members and guests stuffed the stockings with shampoo, hand lotion, deodorant, toothbrushes, tooth paste, dental floss, lip balm, candy, disposable cameras, mitts, toques, miscellaneous cosmetics, toiletries and teen toys (like silly putty), pens and pencils and gift certificates for a meal at McDonald’s, a pass to Village Square Leisure Centre, a free eye examination and, for the girls, a free make-over.  Wow! 

The agencies then took the Stockings to distribute to help make the holiday season brighter for 500 Teens throughout the city! 

The Junior League of Calgary would like to thank all our cash and in-kind donors, without whom this fantastic project would not have been possible!  

Also, thank you to Sara Barbosa and volunteers of Storehouse-39-3-10 (NeighbourLink), who stored all our in-kind donations and organized the warehouse space and equipment, agency vehicle pick-up area and clean-up.   

What a great evening!!!

DIADS

Children's Cottage Nursery Painting

March 2007

Members of the Junior League of Calgary spent a portion of Friday, March 2, and Saturday, March 3, repainting a play room at the Childrens Cottage, a past project of the JLC.

Thank you to all our volunteers, Antoinnette Douville-Mackie, Melissa Stoesser Young, Carol Smith, Cindy Ferguson, Terry Guidry, Denise Bottomley, Susan Cruess, Brenda Ostlund, Judi Lee, Lorena Engen, Kathy Deyell, Jamie Enachescu, and New Member-Elizabeth Andrews, and especially to our artist, Barb LaPointe for her fantastic patience with all of us non-artists.

A special thank you to Hardings Painting, a local painting company, who donated their time and materials to repaint the background to our mural, and to Swintons Art Supply for providing their mural paints at a discount. Junior League members contributed 82 hours plus 24 hours by Barb LaPointe who planned, drew and over saw the mural completion

Packing at Ronald McDonald House

March 2007

Junior League of Calgary members helped pack up the Ronald McDonald House as they moved to their new home next door to the new Alberta Children’s Hospital.  The help that they received was greatly appreciated.  

A giant THANK YOU to all our volunteers!

Emergency Food Hampers

October 2007

On October 10, fourteen members and two non-member assistants of the Junior League of Calgary gathered at the Storehouse-39-3-10 Warehouse to prepare emergency food hampers for partner Neighbour-Link.  At least a hundred or more plastic grocery bags full of non-perishable food contributions were opened and sorted onto shelves, but they didn't remain there for long!  To the sounds of "We need more peanut butter!", or "Where is the Mac & Cheese?" the shelves continuously filled up and then emptied as we focused on packing hampers.  Other items that went into the baskets included breakfast cereals, canned fish and meats, canned fruits and vegetables, fruit juices, soups, pasta, pasta sauce, rice, beans, salad dressing, jam, syrup, Cheese Whiz, tea and coffee.

At the end of the two hour afternoon shift all the bagged food contributions had been stocked and 64 hampers had been prepared, stacked on wooden pallets and shrink-wrapped - Good to go!!

The evening shift sorted and stocked more food donations, particularly those from the Food Bank, which were all mixed together in one HUGE box.  This almost caused us to lose one or two of our more petite members as they dove in to collect the food!  So many hampers were assembled that Neighbour-Link exclaimed, "Amazing" but we answered "No, the Junior League!"

Souper Stars Hot Lunch Program 

November 2007

On November 26^th, seven Junior League of Calgary members assisted the staff from the Community Kitchen Program with their Souper Stars Hot Lunch Program for the 270 children in Connaught School. We unpacked the van and set up tubs of food for each classroom; the volunteers delivered egg burritos, salsa, bananas, carrot sticks, cookies and juice boxes to the classrooms. The children, from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, were a bit hesitant at first but soon enjoyed the special treat of a hot lunch.  One boy created a new food experience by dipping his carrots in salsa which was a big hit!  

Three players from the Calgary Hitmen hockey team were on hand to play a floor hockey game with some of the students at the school.  The hockey players seemed to have the edge until the children decided it was time to switch to indoor soccer! Quickly the competitive advantage disappeared as the students showed their prowess at soccer.  An enthusiastic audience from the rest of the school cheered on their friends and the interaction with the hockey players was wonderful. 

During the lunch, each hockey player visited several classrooms to answer questions and sign autographs.  

A big thank you to everyone who participated!

Other Happenings

Junior League of Calgary Receives Grant

January 2007

Special thanks to the Rotary Club of Calgary South for their generous donation to help us expand the reach of our Bundles of Hope project. This is the second year that this fantastic organization has supported Bundles of Hope. In 2005, they donated $1,000 to the project and this year the grant was increased to $1,500.  The funds will be set aside for purchases of health and hygiene items for the bundles which will be distributed to emergent-need families by several community resource centres. These basic items, which we all take for granted, are treasured by these families, who must allocate their limited funds to food and shelter rather than hygiene items such as toothpaste, deodorant and shampoo. Thank you to the Rotary Club of Calgary South for helping us to make a difference in the community by providing the funds to purchase these items that truly improve the lives of many Calgary families!