It is in the words of Mayor Nenshi with “Clean Hands. Clear Heads. Open Hearts” that Made by Momma is navigating the novel coronavirus. We have been through H1N1, the floods of 2013 and the Fort Mac fires. We know that in times of crisis, our city rises up to help those who need it most and this time it is no different. Made by Momma already follows strict cleaning and sanitizing regimens and is increasing frequency and taking extra precautions at the Resource Center to help protect the health and safety of our volunteers and clients. We are also following all government, WHO and AHS guidelines to the highest level.
We do know that our clients need our services now more than ever! Food security and baby essentials become ever more critical and resources become increasingly sparse as supporters self-isolate. Unfortunately, the challenges faced by families in crisis in Calgary did not stop when this new crisis was added and therefore Made by Momma will continue to operate as an essential service in Calgary.
What we ask is the following:
· If you can support, please do so!
· If you can donate, please consider purchasing an item from our Wish List https://madebymomma.org/donated-items/ or making a monetary donation https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/made-by-momma/
· If you are a volunteer and self-isolating, we support that.
· If you are continuing to volunteer and your role brings you to the Resource Center, please know that activities have been modified to reduce contact. Strict procedures are in place and we ask you to diligently follow the directions of your Team Lead.
· Understanding that hours of operation, services and processes may vary as the situation changes.
· Please be patient. We are volunteer-run and doing our best to maintain operations.
At this time, all of our in-person fundraising events have been cancelled or post-postponed. This includes Golf for Girls, likely our casino and several in which we were the charity of choice. We are fortunate in that in celebration of our 10th anniversary, long before we ever could have predicted this pandemic, we opted for a virtual gala. The UnGala is still a go! If you would like to purchase a ticket and join us for some online fun, please join us here http://bit.ly/mbmungala2020
We thank you for your continued support and know that even when circumstances keep us physically apart, we continue to rise stronger together. #YYCstrong
Sincerely,
Allyson Palaschuk
President, Made by Momma
We are absolutely thrilled to be named one the charities chosen by the Calgary Herald Christmas Fund for the 2019 campaign!
“The 2019 Christmas Fund is honoured to continue its 28-year tradition of giving back to the community. More than $27 million has been raised for local agencies and charities in Calgary over the years, via this fund that was started by journalists in the Calgary Herald newsroom.“
Each year a new volunteer committee of Calgary Herald employees is formed and they review all of the charity applications that come in. They have the incredibly difficult task of choosing the who the deserving charities will be. These are charities (like ours!) who need the support of the community to help their clients, programs and services!
We are incredibly proud to be one of the six local charities chosen for this fabulous initiative!
Please consider donating to Made by Momma and the 7000+ people we help each year through our programs.
Help one, help many. ♥
Donations can easily be made online by completing the form below,
by mailing a cheque to
Made by Momma
66 21 Street NW
Calgary, AB T2N 4T9
or by calling our Donation Phone Line at 587.890.3869
Thank you for choosing to support Made by Momma!
10 Years. Volunteer-Run. Donation-Driven.
Registered Canadian Charity 827110008 RR0001
Oh where to begin our love letter to the amazing community of KIN…..
Well, truly it all starts with the Kinette Club of Calgary who completed a volunteer project for us, way back in June of 2012. Their group saw a need that we had and spent a weekend cooking up HUGE batches of Chicken Cattatorie for the families we help. There was a little bit of a disaster when the meals arrived….. but that’s another story….
And ever since that day in June, we have been steadfast friends and fans of KIN. Many of our Made by Momma volunteers are also involved in KIN – it truly is a wonderful partnership. Over the years, we have built relationships with all 5 of the Calgary Clubs and they have supported us in many different ways…. sponsoring our events, attending our fundraisers, donating financially, volunteering, and most important; making an impact on the families we serve in the community in which we all live, work and play.
Our #1MoreStory Capital Campaign; resulting in our beautiful building (which is ALMOST complete) was only achieved because of the financial support we have received from The Calgary Kinsmen, The Stampede City Kinsmen, The Calgary Kinettes and The Stampede City Kinettes. The Kin Campus Club was not able to donate financially – but they certainly helped in other ways! 🙂
Our new building was built on an incredibly strong foundation of community support, and that really embodies the spirit of KIN.
Back by popular demand – we offer you the ability to shop for our most needed items through our AMAZON.ca Wish List, and get your donations directly shipped to our Resource Centre!
We also have an AMAZON.ca Wish-List for The Happy Birthday Project! Check it out!
It is that time of year again!
Back to school frenzy, a slight chill in the air and a heavy dose of pumpkin spice everywhere you turn. That can only mean one thing….Made by Momma’s 10th Annual Dueling Pianos Charity FUNdraiser is just around the corner! This fabulous and fun event is taking place on Thursday, November 7th 2019 at 6:30pm at Aussie Rules Piano Bar.
If you have never attended this event, you don’t know what you are missing. The fundraiser features three live singers playing their pianos and dueling it out on who can play any randomly requested song (by the audience) best. These musicians are incredibly talented and will get you singing and dancing. They take live requests and will follow through with any genre of music right on the spot.
There are balloon pop raffles with generous prizes, a wine raffle with guaranteed delicious wine and bubbles, a WestJet Raffle for a free trip to anywhere in the world, dozens of silent auction items and of course dinner, dessert and a bar. The best part of this whole night? The fact that people come together to donate their time and money for the many families we help, who are experiencing a crisis in their lives. We are ever so grateful for the support.
Hope to see you there!
We are thrilled to announce that with the help of the Kinette Club of Calgary, and the 9th Annual Golf for Girls Charity Classic tournament, $82,000 in gross revenue was raised for Made by Momma! We want to thank everyone who contributed to the event, making it a huge success and helping us support families in crisis and adversity. This would not have been possible without the golfers who participated in the tournament and helped us raise money through our various fundraisers. Thank you to all who came out, and we truly hope you had a fun and memorable day. Also a big thank you to River Spirit Golf Club for the incredible hospitality.
We want to highlight and thank our generous sponsors who contributed indispensable support to the tournament, making our fundraiser a tremendous success.
We would also like to thank all the donors who contributed merchandise, vouchers, experiences, wine, and other prizes to our various fundraisers. Additionally, thank you to sponsors who contributed food, refreshments and experiences for our golfers to enjoy throughout the day. Finally, thank you to all our logistics and media sponsors for making sure our event ran smoothly. The support of all our donors and sponsors was vital to the success of the event and we are truly grateful.
Trolley No.5 Restaurant & Brewhouse, Blanco Tex Mex Cantina, Añejo Restaurant, Mister Chen’s Asian Brasserie
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Spolumbo’s Fine Foods & Deli, Wild Tea Kombucha
South by Southwest Wine Imports
Glamaway, SOS Charging Solutions, Red Events, Family Freezed Gourmet Ice Pops
Wild 95.3 Calgary’s New Country, 101.5 Today Radio
First Impressions Sportswear & Cresting, ATB Financial
Every Mother’s Day we create special gift bags for some of the moms that we are helping. These are moms facing crisis alone – without a partner. They may be going through an illness, balancing life as a single mom or living in a shelter. We want these moms to know that they are not alone and that someone cares. If that someone is you, please have a look at the donation list of items* that we collect to create these lovely little gift bags. ♥
*New, unwrapped and non-denominational items only
To celebrate National Volunteer Week, every year we feature a handful of our amazing volunteers who are truly making a difference!
As a volunteer-run and donation-driven charity, it takes a village to run our organization. Meet a few of our amazing supporters:
Linda is a mom of two adult children and grandmother to two adorable grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with her family and volunteering with Made by Momma now that she is retired from the provincial government.
Linda started volunteering with MBM after she and her daughter went to a volunteer information session over two years ago. She was instantly hooked when she saw what MBM does and who MBM helps. Linda saw that there was a need for volunteers to help sort and distribute the many new and gently used donations. She also likes the flexibility of the volunteer hours, because it allows her to volunteer and still have lots of time with her grandchildren.
When asked what she liked best about MBM, Linda replied, “I know Made by Momma helps a lot of families in need, as well as families in the NICU units, and it’s nice to know that I’m a part of it all.”
Linda regularly volunteers at the MBM Resource Centre sorting, packing and organizing donations – and having a lot of fun with the other volunteers. She has also volunteered with Kitchen Chop Squad -preparing meals for our families- as
A BIG thank you to Linda for all the time and energy she has put into helping us here at Made by Momma. We really cannot run our organization without amazing volunteers like Linda!
Laura has been living in Calgary with her husband, dog and cat for the last five years. When she is not spending time with her family or volunteering with Made by Momma, Laura can be found at her barn relaxing with her horses.
In October 2017, Laura did some research on MBM and quickly realized that she had to be a part of it all. It was MBM’s mission and the positive impact that it makes on the families in need that attracted Laura to volunteer. Not only did Laura like that she was able to volunteer around her schedule and not the other way around, but that there are numerous volunteer opportunities to choose from.
“The support that MBM provides is like no other organization. There is such a need in Calgary for the support that MBM provides to families, and without the help of so many volunteers it would not be possible,” explains Laura about what she has learned over the years volunteering at MBM.
Laura volunteers most Saturdays at the Resource Centre. She’ll be there to greet you with a big friendly smile, while cheerfully accepting donations and entering data. When she is not on-site, she is out doing home support visits and volunteering at MBM’s community events and fundraisers, such as the Fall FUNdraiser and Golf for Girls. Laura also enjoys helping out with packing meals and hampers, as well as helping with deliveries.
Thank you, Laura, for all you do for us here at MBM and in the community. You’re an inspiration, and we love having you as part of our organization.
Kyley is an accountant, holistic nutritionist, health coach and fitness enthusiast. When she is not volunteering with Made by Momma, she spends quality time with her fiancé and their four-legged family members.
Kyley has always enjoyed giving back to those
in need and the less fortunate. She firmly believes in the importance of
helping those who might not be able to help themselves. In May 2018, her friend
Laura introduced her to MBM—knowing it would be a perfect fit; Laura was right.
Kyley instantly knew that she had to be a part of this charity.
Some of Kyley’s favourite things about
volunteering with MBM is the flexibility of the volunteer schedule and how easy
it is to be involved. But for Kyley, it’s the community that is her favourite
part. She loves that every single person, volunteers and clients, at MBM are so
kind, thoughtful and caring. She believes it’s a privilege to know the ladies
who started MBM, as well as all those who volunteer, and those who they assist.
“As a team, we can help so many families,”
states Kyley about why she loves being part of MBM. “The number of families
that need assistance in Calgary is overwhelming, and it truly does take a
village to help.”
You can find Kyley helping out in almost every
area of MBM. She can be found volunteering Saturdays at the Resource Centre
with Laura. They work together to help track all of MBM’s donations, and ensure
all information is up to date and accurate, as well as helping with financial
reporting as needed and being on the capital campaign committee. But Kyley, the
highlight is working on the fundraising committee. Kyley worked on the Aussie
Rules Fundraiser last year and looks forward to more events like it.
Thank you, Kyley. You do so much for our
clients and us. We at Made by Momma are humbled and grateful for your continued
contributions.
The Stampede City Kinettes Motto is “Serving the Community’s Greatest Need,” and they do exactly that when they come to volunteer at Made by Momma. This dynamic group of women from all walks of life have a passion for service work, but they also like to have fun. With a belief in fellowship and personal development, their common goal is to make the community a better place to live.
The Stampede City Kinettes first heard about Made by Momma through a sister club and have been volunteering for 3 years since. Seeing the kitchen as the heart of the home that is Made by Momma, this group loves cooking meals for families and enjoy the social aspect and fellowship of volunteering. They also proudly donated $10,000 in 2019 towards the “1 More Story” project and are excited to see it come to completion!
The Stampede City Kinettes would encourage other companies and groups to volunteer with Made by Momma in order to be a part of the fun and interactive team project of helping local families
Thank you, Stampede City Kinettes. Your dedication to volunteering provides such important support for families. We are proud and grateful to have volunteers like you with Made by Momma.
The Stantec community unites more than 22,000 employees working in over 400 locations. Their work, which includes professional consulting in planning, engineering, architecture, interior design landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management, and project economics, begins at the intersection of community, creativity and client relationships. They hold a long term commitment to the people and places they serve, connecting projects on a personal level and advancing the quality of life in communities across the globe.
Stantec feels that volunteering is an important part of upholding community pillars such as arts, education, environment, health and wellness. Volunteering with Made by Momma is part of an ongoing effort to get employees involved with organizations they are passionate about and help them connect with communities and strengthen them in meaningful ways.
Stantec first heard about Made by Momma in 2014 through an employee who had personally volunteered and donated. After hearing about what we do they knew they had to be a part of it somehow! Cooking meals for Made by Momma is a staff favourite as they are aware of the importance of nutritious meals for young families. During a recent group cook, Stantec made 44 packages of food, a total of 222 servings. They also donate clothing and help with inventory swaps between summer and winter seasons.
Stantec is looking forward to volunteering again, seeing what they will get to cook and what the Resource Centre looks like after the “1 More Story” campaign!
Groups like Stantec are integral to the support that Made by Momma provides. Thank you, Stantec for being dedicated to helping the community, and for choosing Made by Momma for your team volunteering.
This group of likeminded women, casually known as The Crew, believe in harnessing the collective power of women with the intention of helping communities thrive. Beginning with two friends who realized they could strengthen a network of creative and inspiring women by coming together to volunteer, they continue to grow and flourish, with their impacts on the community getting bigger and better!
A founding member of The Crew has volunteered with Made by Momma through her work with the Kinette Club of Calgary, who are huge supporters of our charity. They first volunteered almost two years ago, helping to reorganize a temporary space while the “1 More Story” addition was being built. Most recently they helped us move back into the Resource Centre, and partook in a “Galentine’s Day” cook in the new kitchen! They also participate in the Golf for Girls Tournament run by the Kinnette Club of Calgary in support of Made by Momma.
As women themselves, the recognition that women often worry about everyone else first, especially mothers. They know that women and mothers need to be supported. “We love supporting other women and we love that Made by Momma is so welcoming and non-judgemental; if you need help and ask for it, Made by Momma is there”
One of their favourite parts of volunteering with Made by Momma is knowing they have a direct impact on mothers and families. “When you cook a meal, you know somebody will literally be digging into it next week. When you make a donation, you know that everything you give goes directly to service delivery becasue the organization is volunteer-run”
The Crew truly embodies Made by Mommas philosophy of ‘women helping women,’ showing how powerful a dedicated group of volunteers can be. Thank you so much for your ongoing support and belief in our organization.
#NVW2019 #MadeByMomma
Looking for a summer job? Love giving back to the community? We’ve got exciting news! We’ve applied for 3 Canada Summer Jobs Program Grants, and we’re looking for 3 fabulous Summer Interns!S
As a volunteer-run organization, every aspect of what we do is done by volunteers….client intake, cooking & baking, updating the website, tracking data, planning events, packing up baby essentials, answering emails, delivering meals, organizing donation drives, attending community events…and everything in between!
The summer months can be a busy time for our organization so we’re looking forward to finding three dynamic students to help us run our Resource Centre. The positions open
We’d love to find
Additional information on each available role can be found here:
These jobs will provide you with the opportunity to acquire new skills and gain valuable work experience in the nonprofit sector.
If you are passionate about the work our charity does and you’d like to apply for any of our positions, please get in touch with us.
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*Positions are dependent on grant application approval.
THANK YOU Calgary!
We are thrilled to be the chosen charity to receive the latest group donation(s) towards our #1MoreStory campaign!
We are thrilled that Made by Momma is in the running to win $25,000 in funding from the Epicure Foundation!
YOU can help us win this much-needed funding! All it takes is a simple vote via survey monkey… you don’t even need to give your email address!
One vote per device!
Super easy!
https://epicure.com/en/about/epicure-foundation
CLICK the LINK above.
CLICK the VOTE NOW button
that will take you to Survey Monkey
Scroll down and click the box beside Made by Momma and then
SUBMIT at the bottom of the form.
THANK YOU!
Winning this financial gift would make a HUGE impact on our charity right now as we near the end of our #1MoreStory Campaign and gear up for our Christmas programs! ♥
Access to real food. Simple cooking skills and knowledge of nutrition. The promise of a healthy meal tomorrow. These are basic necessities for every person, and the reason we established the Epicure Foundation™ in 2007.
Created to support research, education, and capacity-building projects that address key food security issues in Canada, this program will be awarding six finalists with in-kind donations and grants ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 in 2018!
Hello supporters! We are SO EXCITED! We applied for the AVIVA Community Fund this year – and our idea was accepted!
Moms Matter – Building Community with #1MoreStory
We know #ItTakesAVillage to raise a family and we are #BetterTogether – winning this financial award would be a game-changer for our charity!
There are FOUR ways YOU can help make this happen!
1) Register to vote and give us all 10 of your votes! (you can do all 10 votes in one shot, it isn’t an every day voting thing)
2) Once voting is live on Tuesday at 10am – SHARE the heck out of our public Facebook / Twitter / Instagram posts encouraging more votes!
3) Ask your significant other, your sister, your workmates etc. (anyone with an email address!) to also register and vote for Made by Momma’s idea… all votes will be needed and appreciated!
4) If you are, or know of an AVIVA broker please connect us! Having a lot of Aviva broker support & votes helps immensely!
We know this is going to be a super tough competition – we will likely be up against big organizations and other big ideas….so every vote will matter!
xoxoxoxo
PS – you can go ahead and REGISTER today, and VOTE on Tuesday!
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Congratulations!
Your idea has been approved.
For your reference the unique link to your idea page is
https://www.avivacommunityfund.org/voting/project/view/18-638
Start promoting your idea today by sharing the unique link to your idea page using Facebook, Twitter or community events.
All approved ideas will be posted on the Aviva Community Fund website starting on the first day of the Voting Round on September 25, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).
Tell everyone you know (and even those you don’t!) about your incredible idea and encourage them to vote from September 25, 2018 to October 4, 2018.
Partner with a Broker
Another important way to get support for your idea is to team up with an Aviva broker partner in your community. The idea receiving the most Aviva broker partner votes during the competition will receive a $5,000 recognition prize, in addition to any other prize funds awarded.
Good luck!
The Aviva Community Fund Team
We are Building Community!
Golf for Girls 2018 was a HUGE success! We want to thank everyone involved in the event from all of our amazing volunteers and our awesome celebrities, to our wonderful golfers and our incredibly generous sponsors! We had a full day of raising money, drinking Champagne and there was a little golf in there too. This was by far our best year with a sold out tournament – raising $73,333!
We have to give a huge thank you to all the incredible people, companies, and organizations that helped us hit this milestone!
Last, but never least – thank you to The Kinette Club of Calgary for choosing to partner with us once again, and making sure this event was a huge success! We know it takes a village and together we made it happen!
*photo credit Carmen Julia Photography
JOIN US!
June Dresses is a month-long, peer-to-peer fundraising campaign for women in which participants pledge to wear a dress or a skirt each day in the month of June, capture it on photo, share on your social networks (and OURS!) and solicit pledge donations. Challenge your girls – family, friends and coworkers – to do the same.
Funds donated through this page go directly to Made by Momma and the work we do in support of women in our community. Check out our fundraising page here: June Dresses 2018 Join the challenge yourself, or create a team and encourage each other through the month!
Your participation and donation make a difference! With your help, women in Calgary and the surrounding communities will continue to have access to the services we provide.
To learn more about June Dresses, including tips & tricks for making through the month, local volunteering events and much more, please visit junedresses.ca
#MBMJuneDresses
Empowering women — One dress at a time! It’s FUN – with a purpose!
PS – did you know that for every dollar donated to Made by Momma through our CanadaHelps Page in the month of June, we’ll be entered into a draw for a $10,000 donation!?
Come and join us at the Made by Momma Resource Centre in West Hillhurst for some sun, fun and treats.
June 16, 2018
11:00 am – 2:00pm
66 21 Street NW
We look forward to welcoming our community with our friends, neighbours, supporters, volunteers and clients to this great event for the whole family!
Once again AVATARA Pizza will serve up some delicious eats! We’ll be giving $2 coupons off each order with the donation of baby essentials; diapers, wipes or formula for struggling #YYC families.
There will be a DJ, a reptile zoo, a magician, balloon and airbrush artists, bouncy castles, crafts and more to be enjoyed by all!
We’re look forward to seeing and meeting everyone, and celebrating our community! #YYCNeighbourDay #WestHillhurst #mbmvolunteers
Looking for a summer job? Love giving back to the community? We’ve got exciting news! We’ve applied for 3 Canada Summer Jobs Program Grants for 3 fabulous Summer Students this year!
As a volunteer-run organization, every aspect of what we do is done by volunteers….client intake, cooking & baking, updating the website, tracking data, planning events, packing up baby essentials, answering emails, delivering meals, organizing donation drives, attending community events…and everything in between!
The summer months can be a busy time for our organization so we’re looking forward to finding three dynamic students to help us run our Resource Centre. The positions open are: Resource Centre Coordinator, Multi-Media Marketing Coordinator and The Happy Birthday Project Coordinator.
We’d love to find student that are taking non-profit studies, social work, nursing, child development, psychology, sociology, business, PR/Marketing, communications, or management studies to be a part of our team. These positions have been created for a student between 18 and 30 years old, who has been attending school full-time, and will be resuming classes in the fall.
Additional information on each available role can be found here: 2018 Summer Students Job Posting
These jobs will provide you with the opportunity to acquire skills, gain valuable work experience and help finance your return to school.
If you are passionate about the work our charity does and you’d like to apply for any of our positions, please get in touch with us.
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*Positions are dependent on grant application approval.
It’s National Volunteer Week – celebrated this year from April 15-21 across Canada. It’s Made by Momma’s chance as a non-profit organization to say thanks and to show our heartfelt appreciation to our core – our volunteers – simply without whom we would not exist!
This week we will take a few moments to introduce you to some volunteers and the variety of tasks they perform that help Made by Momma support dozens of families each week. Because as we really do believe – It Takes a Village! Please share. Retweet. And celebrate the #valueofvolunteering with us.
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The importance of giving back for a past board member and her family
Sometimes a Facebook popup can lead to a good thing. Take past Made by Momma Communications Coordinator and board member Renu Chandarana who kept seeing her friends ‘post’ or ‘like’ something on MBM’s Facebook page. She became intrigued and decided to check things out.
Gaining some free time once her young children started school, Renu had started looking for ways to meet new people while doing meaningful work. Made by Momma’s work in providing meals and nurturing care to moms and small children struck a personal chord with Renu. Her family had experienced a crisis when her children were very young, but were fortunate to have their own supportive village to help them through. She felt that it was her duty to pay it forward to those who were not so fortunate. Also, volunteering on the board in a leadership role would help her gain some professional experience.
As Communications Coordinator, Renu was involved in creating an e-newsletter, writing blog and social media posts, planning and executing fundraising events as well as speaking at community events. While not everyone’s strength, speaking publicly and sharing the Made by Momma story became Renu’s favourite part of volunteering. She regularly spoke at fundraising events as well as events hosted by community partners like Women Talk.
Serving on Made by Momma’s board brought many moments of pride for Renu, most notably competing in Social Venture Partners Calgary’s Fast Pitch 2016, in which she created a three-minute pitch to showcase Made by Momma’s innovation and social impact.
The importance of charity and giving back are values that Renu happily now shares with her daughters who find joy in donating their toys and clothes to other children.
As Renu shares, “Growing up Giving,” a slogan that Allyson Palaschuk (President of Made by Momma) introduced to me, is something that has become a core value in our home.”
Now forever connected, Renu plans to continue advocating for Made by Momma and the many women and families that we support. Her voice and dedication are always welcome!
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Fundraiser, meal packer and board member extraordinaire
Former board member and volunteer extraordinaire Ellery Chyzyk has practically done it all during her multi-year volunteer stint with Made by Momma.
Recruited through Facebook like many volunteers, Ellery has been a driving force behind our event planning committee, planning several fundraisers including those recently held at Aussie Rules.
She has packed meals and kept board meetings on schedule and organized as secretary. She also willingly took over the volunteer director role last fall, holding two director roles simultaneously, helping to ensure that new volunteers were welcomed and oriented to the Made by Momma community.
Her favourite thing to do. “Depends on the day!” Clarifying, “I do enjoy being involved in more than one way so it is adjustable depending on my current availability and flexibility.”
“Ellery is the kind of volunteer member you want in your organization but are very rare to find,” said a fellow board member and vice president Wendy. “She takes on projects with gusto and is willing to pick up the pieces when things have gone off the rails.”
“She is willing to do whatever is needed and be wherever she is needed. That kind of volunteer spirit and commitment is rare.”
Finding it hard to put into words, Ellery volunteers because she can. She find the time she spends volunteering for the greater good of the community so rewarding.
“With MBM I know that the volunteer work is all directly useful and needed for the clients we support,” she stated. “As a 100% volunteer run organization we could not do any of it without the people who give their time, and every hour put in to volunteering is a contribution directly effecting the lives of our clients and supports the village we all strive to be a part of.”
As for the future, Ellery plans to be a volunteer lifer with MBM, noting “I plan to always be involved with MBM. It is a cause close to my heart and I love all of my fellow volunteers!”
We love you too Ellery! And we will keep our fingers tightly grasped around her – in a loving way of course.
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New mom finds ways to give back as a Made by Momma volunteer
Hearing rave reviews from her clients spurred volunteer newbie Karen Monk to check out volunteering with Made by Momma. Having worked in the non-profit sector for many years, she had looked into resources to refer her clients to and came upon Made by Momma. She was excited to find out about MBM and all the services that support people in the community. Since then, she’s referred several clients and had many report back that MBM had gone above and beyond for them and how delicious the meals are.
Once Karen started maternity leave, she was looking for an opportunity to volunteer – something that was flexible and offered some variety so she could coordinate with her busy schedule.
She attended a volunteer information session and learned how flexible volunteering with Made by Momma can be. She noted, “Many places I have volunteered with in the past want you to commit to certain shifts per month or a minimum time period. However, with Made by Momma you can volunteer as little or as much as you want and it can work with any schedule.”
Karen jumped into helping with weekly hamper deliveries, dropping off wholesome meals or baby essentials to families across the city. Since it only involves an hour or two of time per week, she is able to bring her son along.
Her family also had fun planning and shopping for a local family through our Adopt-A-Momma program last Christmas. Her extended family contributed as well and it brought them a lot of joy coming up with fun gifts for the family to experience together. To Karen, what sets Made by Momma’s Adopt-A-Family program apart is that adopters can directly deliver to the adopted family.
“Seeing the family we helped directly and how happy/appreciate they were really made our holidays special,” she said.”
Now that Karen has dabbled in a few different volunteer activities, she plans to continue as it is rewarding for her to make a delivery to a family. Having a young family herself, she feels a special connection with many of MBM’s families and can see how important the support can be in those first years of childhood.
“The fact that Made by Momma is a volunteer-run organization is really astounding and it amazes me at all the things they are able to accomplish. I feel grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of it!” And MBM is truly lucky that Karen chooses to share her giving nature and be part of our community.
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‘Cookie Lady’ Marlene Whyte finds balance
Like many volunteers, self-professed cookie lady Marlene Whyte found her way to Made by Momma via a friend’s invitation to participate in a cooking evening a few years ago. She immediately recognized how wonderful Made by Momma is and appreciated its grassroots appeal. At the earliest opportunity, she immediately invited a group of neighbours to share in a volunteer cook one evening.
These fun cooking evenings were all it took to plant the seed. Marlene started making dozens of cookies using her mom’s recipe at home and delivering them to the Resource Centre every week. She calls it a little thing but we don’t agree. Imagine the delight of a family going through a rough or challenging time and how they must feel. How thrilled they must be to open their MBM care package and find those tasty oatmeal chocolate chip cookies!
Volunteering to Marlene is part of a balanced life and she believes that each of us should find a way to give back to our communities. To her, “The act of volunteering is an enriching experience and I gain as much as I give!”
Now that Marlene is an empty nester, she loves the flexibility that volunteering with Made by Momma offers and finds it a good fit for balance in her life. She says that she continues to volunteer with MBM as it provides her with an avenue to support others who can benefit from home-cooked, wholesome and nourishing food.
In her own words, “It’s fun to imagine who it is, children or adults, that are enjoying the comfort food of a basic oatmeal chocolate chip cookie and I hope it makes their days brighter.”
We agree! We can’t wait to taste her next batch of signature cookies. Thanks Marlene for those delicious treats.
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So what the heck is #GivingTuesday anyways?
#GivingTuesday is a global giving movement that has been built by individuals, families, organizations, businesses and communities in all around the world. Millions of people have come together to support and champion the causes they believe in and the communities in which they live.
We have two days for getting deals – Black Friday and Cyber Monday. On #GivingTuesday, we have a day for giving back. Together, people are creating a new ritual for our annual calendar. #GivingTuesday is the opening day of the giving season: a reminder of the “reason for the season.”
Every act of generosity counts, and each means even more when we give together. #GivingTuesday includes people of all ethnicities, religions and backgrounds. Together, millions of people demonstrate our common capacity to give.
#GivingTuesday is a celebration of North America’s greatest traditions: generosity, entrepreneurialism, community. Everyone has something to give. You can give time or expertise, monetary donations large or small, simple acts of kindness, food or clothing.
2 ways you can contribute to Made by Momma on #GivingTuesday are:
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support, encouragement and contributions to our cause. We are so grateful that you are a part of our village.
Welcome to our Annual 12 Can Challenge!
This is a simple grassroots effort to help others in our community when they need it the most.
The holidays are most often a time to enjoy and celebrate with friends and family – but for many others it can be a time of loneliness, sadness and stress. This year the need is incredibly high and we hope that we can rely on our community to help us meet the needs of those struggling.
The challenge is simple; collect 12 CANS for those that can’t! We know it takes a village and together we can make a difference to these families.
1. Every week between now and Christmas we challenge you to purchase and donate CANs for Made by Momma! When you shop for your groceries, purchase one or two extra items – it could be a CAN of food or something else that is non-perishable. (see the suggested list below) Collect one or two CANs each week for the next 12 weeks. It is simple to do and may cost as little as $1 – $2 per week.
2. When you have completed the challenge; drop your collection off to our community pantry at the Made by Momma Resource Centre in December where items will be packed into Christmas food hampers and/or used to prepare freezer meals for struggling families.
3. Invite as many of your friends to this event as you CAN! Get your neighbours and co-workers involved or make it a family project – it is never too early nor too late to teach your kids compassion & kindness!
4. SHARE this event! Social media can make miracles happen!
How many CANs CAN we collect? CAN we beat last year? We’ll keep track as CANs are donated and keep this page up to date! Feel free to post photos (or a selfie!) of the CANs you have collected to inspire everyone!
Top 10 most needed CANned goods at the Made by Momma Resource Centre:
Soup Stock (chicken, beef, vegetable)
Coconut Milk
Tomatoes
Tomato Sauce
Tomato Paste
Pasta Sauce
Beans (chick peas, black beans, kidney beans)
Tuna/Salmon/Chicken
Canned Fruit (peaches, pineapple)
Vegetables (corn, peas)
Cream Soups
Other non-perishable pantry items needed:
Pasta
Rice
Nuts
Dried Fruit
Bags of lentils & dried beans
Oatmeal
Spices
Peanut Butter
Juice
Cereal
Gluten-Free items are always needed.
These additional items are also needed for families in crisis:
Baby Diapers
Baby Wipes
Baby Food
Feminine Hygiene Products
Personal Care Items/Toiletries
Toilet Paper
Paper Towels
Christmas Gifts for our Adopt-a-Momma Program, Santa’s Workshop and/or The Happy Birthday Project.
Not able to shop? Don’t live in Calgary? Still want to get involved?
You can make a charitable donation directly to this program through our CanadaHelps account here:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/made-by-momma
Please join our 12 CAN Challenge – it’s simple and easy to do; we have so many families that will greatly appreciate every donation. Remember, together we CAN make a difference!
Let’s change someone’s life – right here; right now!
#12CANs4MBM #MBM12CANS #12CANsTillChristmas
Running from beginning of October – December 23rd 2017
