Mother's Day Spa Donations for The Youth Pregnancy & Parenting Program

I say this time & time again but the power of a maternal community continues to amaze.

We were approached by a member who had a friend, who had a friend that was looking for help in collecting spa products: soap, shampoo, makeup, nail care items, perfumes and hair accessories for the Vancouver Youth Pregnancy & Parenting Program. The coordinators at YPP were planning a special Mother's Day Spa event for the girls and were going to use the products to pamper the young moms and moms-to-be as well as assemble gift bags to be taken home by the ladies. We put the word out to our group of wonderful Lulu Ladies & Babies/Stroller Strides Richmond moms and did they ever deliver!!

The Youth Pregnancy & Parenting Program is facilitated by Vancouver Coastal Health. Direct from their website... in Vancouver, young mothers can access medical and support services at Evergreen Community Health Centre. The benefit to the program is having all the services under one roof instead of having to visit multiple sites. The program provides youth-friendly pre and postnatal care and education programs for youth and teens up to 22 years old in a fun, casual environment.

We managed to collect an enormous amount of spa products to help these new moms to be make their Mother's Day something special. One of our members is part owner of a Salon in Steveston. H2O Hair & Nail was the biggest donor of product by far. Not only did Marlene, Jennifer and their crew donate numerous bags of product, they donated 3 gift certificates that will go as part of a prize draw for the event day. Thanks H2O and thanks to all the moms in the group that kindly made donations that will go towards making someones Mother's Day extra special this year.

In good health,

Susan

Supporting the Ban on Cosmetic Pesticides in Richmond

Stroller Strides Richmond and Lulu Ladies & Babies proudly supports a ban on the cosmetic use of pesticides and working towards a Pesticide Free Richmond. Join us in lending your support to The Richmond Pesticide Awareness Coalition.

The Richmond Pesticide Awareness Coalition along with support from The Canadian Cancer Society, invites all concerned parents to attend a free educational forum called Pesticides & Our Children - What are the risks and what can you do? Come out to this forum and learn why The Canadian Cancer Society is concerned about the non-essential use of pesticides so you can make informed choices about the health of your children and the environmental carcinogens they are exposed to. Guest speakers will include Dr. Warren Bell, doctor and founding president of The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and Arzeena Hamir, organic gardener.

The forum will take place on Saturday January 24th, 2009 from 10:30 am -12:00 noon at The Richmond Cultural Centre, located at 7700 Minoru Gate in Richmond. Pre-registration is encouraged as space is limited.

We Remember

Remembrance Day is a day to commemorate the sacrifices of past and current members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war, specifically since the World War I.

I had the opportunity to sit in on my oldest sons Remembrance Day assembly at school yesterday. It took me back to my elementary school days as I vividly remember the solemness of the Remembrance Day assembly. The children were told not to clap or talk out during the assembly to show their respect to those who have given their lives for us in the name of freedom.

A special person from different facets of the community were asked to come to the front and lay a wreath in honor of those fallen. Tears welled up in my eyes when the elderly gentleman that represented the veterans made his way up the the front on the arm of the Principal of the school. Emotions continued as the RCMP officer, dressed in his full red serge marched up the the front to lay his wreath, he stepped back and saluted, it was very moving.

I explained to my children today the significance of Remembrance Day. My youngest, at 3, doesn't quite understand but my oldest who is 6 does. He knows that it is important to wear a poppy and to take a moment of silence to remember the men and women who fought and who are currently fighting for us to keep our country safe.

Today We Remember.

Susan

Send a Holiday e-Card for a Great Cause

The season of giving is fast approaching. Robeez has come up with an easy way to send your family & friends a holiday greeting and give to those in need at the same time. For each of their holiday e-cards that you send, Robeez will donate $5 product donation up to $250,000 worth of shoes to K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations). As a bonus to you, each time you send the e-card, you will be entered to win a shoes & socks set! It's an all-around WIN!

Giving a Kid a Coat

This week marks the end of our Lulu Ladies & Babies Powered by Stroller Strides, Give a Kid a Coat, winter coat drive.

As a group of mothers, we understand the importance of keeping your child warm when the colder weather comes upon us. The thought of a child going without a warm coat is unimaginable to many but it's real and as a group we wanted to do something to help.

We asked that each mom in the group either donate a coat that their child had outgrown or maybe even stop by their local thrift store and purchase a used coat to donate. Our goal was to donate 100 coats, maybe we were a bit ambitious at that but I'm one to believe that any donation, large or small, adds up and is significant. The coats were collected at our Stroller Strides classes or Lulu Ladies & Babies social events. They were delivered to Sleep Country Canada who is spearheading the drive on behalf of The Salvation Army.

Through the Give a Kid a Coat Program, we have helped clothe 40,793 underprivileged Canadian children in the past three years. Drop off a coat in any Sleep Country store, during the fall, and it will be distributed to needy children by the Salvation Army. We work in league with the Salvation Army -- and radio stations in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta -- offering our stores as drop-off locations for clothing.

Giving back to the community is an important part of Lulu Ladies & Babies Powered by Stroller Strides. Jump on over to our Favorite Charities page of our website and see what other things we have done to do our part to make the world just a little bit better.

Tis the Season of Holiday Craft Fairs

With the incessant rain of November comes one of my most favorite times of the year. The Holiday craft fair season! I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for all the unique, obscure gift items. I'm one of those that loves to give good gifts. It makes my day to find something that I know the gift recipient will love.

I'll start with my foremost favorite. The Circle Craft Christmas Market is held each year at the Trade & Convention Centre at Canada Place, 2008 dates are November 11-16th. It is billed as Western Canada's largest and one-of-a-kind gift fairs and they do not disappoint. If you have never had the opportunity to check Circle Craft out, make sure you put it on your list of things to do for this year, I promise, you'll be sorry if you don't. An added bonus, you can print off a coupon for $2 off your show admission.

This year marks the first time the Inspired in the City Baby & Family Holiday Fair will take place. It happens this year on Sunday, November 3rd. 10:00-3:00 at the Steveston Community Centre. The show promises an amazing selection of locally made products and support services for Moms & Families. Sounds like a winner.

The City of Richmond through the local community centres offers a few gems as well. Steveston's Christmas Craft Fair is billed as Richmond BIGGEST fair! This year it takes place on Saturday, November 29th. 10:00 - 4:00. Minoru Christmas Craft Fair will take place on the same day as Steveston, also from 10:00 -4:00. At Minoru, you will not only find unique treasures, you will also benefit the seniors of the Minoru Place Seniors Activity Centre. They are so close, you can visit one, then head over to the next! South Arm will also have it's own event on Saturday, November 15th. from 10:00 - 5:00.

I came across a listing for a Craft Night and Silent Auction to be held at Dixon Elementary School in Richmond. There you can buy from talented local artists and help Dixon School at the same time. This event happens on Thursdsay, November 20th. from 6:00 - 8:30 pm.

So here is to anther joyous season... of craft fair's that is! Happy Shopping.

In good health,

Susan

Blog Action Day 2008 - Poverty

Blog Action Day is an annual nonprofit event that aims to unite the world’s bloggers, podcasters and videocasters, to post about the same issue on the same day. Our aim is to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion.

One Issue, Thousands of Voices

Global issues like poverty are extremely complex. There is no simple, clear answer. By asking thousands of different people to give their viewpoints and opinions, Blog Action Day creates an extraordinary lens through which to view these issues. Each blogger brings their own perspective and ideas. Each blogger posts relating to their own blog topic. And each blogger engages their audience differently.

It's hard to image sometimes that poverty actually exists in Richmond. I look at the people around me and sure, sometimes money is tight, we all scrimp & save at times but I hate to imagine someone in Richmond living without the basic creature comforts like food, clothing and an affordable roof over their head. According to The Richmond Poverty Response Committee street homeless has reached crisis levels in Metro Vancouver. But the visibly homeless represent just the tip of the iceberg. Over 58,000 households pay more than 50% of their income just for a roof over their heads and are at risk of homelessness. Those statistics are alarming.

The Lulu Ladies & Babies just finished doing a food bank drive for The Richmond Food Bank. Over $210.00 cash and 7 boxes full of food & toiletries were collected. It never fails to amaze me, the power of a maternal community. We have some other charitable drives going on this winter. We are participating in Give A Kid a Coat, in which our goal is to collect 100 coats to be distributed by Sleep Country Canada through The Salvation Army. We also plan to participate in Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the message of God’s unconditional love. We are not all religious but that doesn't matter. We are making a child who could otherwise receive nothing at Christmas know that someone in Canada loves and cares about them. This charity is particularly close to my heart as my father, as a child in Paraguay, South America was one of those children who received a box at Christmas. The stories he tells and the strong emotions I hear in his voice and see in his eyes make this an important tradition for me to participate in with my family.

I think it become ever so much more important when you have children and the onus for love and care is no longer soley upon you, the individual. Speaking for myself, I feel added compassion like I never did before I was a mother. It is important for me to give, to share what I have. Big or small, all the contributions and efforts to assist in poverty help. I am so proud to be part of this wonderful group of mothers in our community who take the time to give and share.

In good health,

Susan