A MILLION THANKS, CALGARY
IN TIME OF DIRE NEED, CITY DELIVERS AGAIN
It’s been an extraordinary year in Calgary, filled with incredible lows and uplifting highs.
Much of the drama centres around the flood in June, which devastated many neighbourhoods in Calgary and entire communities in Canmore, Exshaw, Bragg Creek and Redwood Meadows, several First Nation reserves and High River.
But, as many guest columnists have said on this page in the past few weeks, Mother Nature’s wrath also brought out the best in citizens. Neighbour helped neighbour and strangers pulled on their rubber boots and headed to parts unknown to shovel mud, carry debris and raise the spirits of the downtrodden.
On top of the physical contributions, thousands donated money to the cause, and the flood rebuilding fund being managed by the Calgary Foundation has topped $7 million, with more than $3 million already given out in grants.
The Calgary Herald has also joined in that by donating a portion of the money raised through the 2013 Herald Christmas Fund to the Calgary Foundation for long-term recovery projects in Calgary, High River, Canmore and surrounding First Nations reserves.
When we embarked on the annual Christmas Fund in midNovember — our 23rd year of supporting local social agencies — I have to admit we were concerned. Concerned that people in Calgary and area had already given so much this year, there would be nothing left to give. And no one, including the 12 agencies we are supporting this year, could blame them. After all, most of the 12 were also affected by the flood, either through physical damage and loss or by a staggering increase in clients.
But we should have known better. We should have realized that Calgarians would respond as generously as they always have.
Maybe they reacted to the heart-wrenching story about Gig, a 19-year-old who was brain injured in a car crash involving a drunk driver and who, along with his family, is getting a second chance at the Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured. Maybe they read about Miranda, a 33-year-old single mom of two young children who receives ready-made meals from Made by Momma as she’s too weak from Stage 4 skin cancer to cook. Or perhaps it was the tender image of a young girl in her Minnie Mouse-like polka-dot jacket happily exploring the playground at the Children’s Cottage which caused them to donate.
For these are clients of Christmas Fund-sponsored agencies which support Calgarians struggling with poverty, abuse, addiction, isolation, injury and stress. Because you gave, these groups will continue to help others in the coming year.
The 2013 Herald Christmas Fund may have started off a bit slow, but with the meaningful gifts from more than 3,000 of you, we’ve managed to catch up to last year’s tally.
In an extraordinary year, Calgarians’ generosity just might be the most remarkable of all.