Discussions

Loaves and Fishes. Samaritan house Food bank. Helping hands Soyp kitchen.  
Funds fur furry friends. Brandon Humane society.  
All good ones.

Thanks so much for donating. There are many , many great causes in the Westman area.  
 
One that I did not see mentioned above is "Teen Challenge". Please take a moment to check them out.

Lots of groups help local people, like Samaritan House (food bank and safe & warm shelter), Helping Hands (soup kitchen). But there's one group that is addressing an URGENT need in our community - combating the crystal meth (& opioid) epidemic hitting our city. Westman Families of Addicts is a group that I've had help from personally, when I really needed immediate info on how to help someone wanting to get off crystal meth. This group (mostly moms) gave great support, pointed me to specific information & resources (not offered by local Drs, hospital or AFM - they all required a trip to Winnipeg), and continue to reach out and ask how we are both doing. Now I try to help this group out by putting up posters for the monthly meetings (2nd Tuesday of every month), and get discussion going on this topic, to break the stigma. People are so ashamed to admit that they or someone they love have a problem with drugs; we have to all work together if we want to have a safe and healthy community. I've seen people come to a meeting, unsure if they should speak, but looking desperately for help and support as they witness the effect that drugs have on their loved ones. City officials, Police and other service agency members all agree on the importance of this work - as we started at the grassroots level - hosting a Public Education Forum in January. This Forum is the catalyst for further educational presentations that BSD with help from Prairie Mountain Health and the City of Brandon will be organizing for high school-age kids sometime soon (we hope). Members of this group are volunteering their time, talents and resources to getting the word out - looking for funding to get a wholistic treatment centre, detox facility, resource library, and overall better housing arrangements for people needing help to get off and stay off drugs (and their families as well). The Go Fund Me Page is only to try to get some funds from which to operate from, not to build a facility. Not yet. We've had donations of coffee (for 100 ppl), printing, meeting space, and members have donated more individually. It is a non-profit organization, and any contribution, however small, is very welcome. Your donation would be put to work for something that this community NEEDS right now. The problem is not going away - we need to address it now. (And thank you for bringing up the topic of Charity. It is something that is often forgotten these days.)

This thread has been interesting to read and understand how passionate people are about the causes that are important to them.  
 
For the most part the organizations that are mentioned by donors have worked extremely hard to establish themselves. They've put in the years of time and effort that are required to earn people's confidence in our community.  
 
I like the old school way of face to face fundraising. Hard to say no to someone when they are standing right in front of you sharing their passion about their cause!

JillandJacks said "Lots of groups help local people, like Samaritan House (food bank and safe & warm shelter), Helping Hands (soup kitchen). But there's one group that is addressing an URGENT need in our community - combating the crystal meth (& opioid) epidemic hitting our city. Westman Families of Addicts is a group that I've had help from personally, when I really needed immediate info on how to help someone wanting to get off crystal meth. This group (mostly moms) gave great support, pointed me to specific information & resources (not offered by local Drs, hospital or AFM - they all required a trip to Winnipeg), and continue to reach out and ask how we are both doing. Now I try to help this group out by putting up posters for the monthly meetings (2nd Tuesday of every month), and get discussion going on this topic, to break the stigma. People are so ashamed to admit that they or someone they love have a problem with drugs; we have to all work together if we want to have a safe and healthy community. I've seen people come to a meeting, unsure if they should speak, but looking desperately for help and support as they witness the effect that drugs have on their loved ones. City officials, Police and other service agency members all agree on the importance of this work - as we started at the grassroots level - hosting a Public Education Forum in January. This Forum is the catalyst for further educational presentations that BSD with help from Prairie Mountain Health and the City of Brandon will be organizing for high school-age kids sometime soon (we hope). Members of this group are volunteering their time, talents and resources to getting the word out - looking for funding to get a wholistic treatment centre, detox facility, resource library, and overall better housing arrangements for people needing help to get off and stay off drugs (and their families as well). The Go Fund Me Page is only to try to get some funds from which to operate from, not to build a facility. Not yet. We've had donations of coffee (for 100 ppl), printing, meeting space, and members have donated more individually. It is a non-profit organization, and any contribution, however small, is very welcome. Your donation would be put to work for something that this community NEEDS right now. The problem is not going away - we need to address it now. (And thank you for bringing up the topic of Charity. It is something that is often forgotten these days.) "

the families that so are so desperately seeking help for their addicted loved ones need to pony up some cash too! I see that there has only been 335 dollars raised in one week. Sometimes you have to put your money where your mouth is!

I love helping out in charities but right now am unfortunate on the financial side. So I volunteer. I fostered an adult, momma and her 5 kittens last year and every year I volunteer for operation red nose. I wish I could do more but I am partially disabled therefore limited to what I am able to do.

Waitn' for the weekend said "I love helping out in charities but right now am unfortunate on the financial side. So I volunteer. I fostered an adult, momma and her 5 kittens last year and every year I volunteer for operation red nose. I wish I could do more but I am partially disabled therefore limited to what I am able to do. "

You should be proud of your ability to help others less fortunate, be they human or animals. Many of us try to do what we can, and it doesn't always have to involve money. Don't listen to the negative talkers, who just want to complain about everything. Having the capacity to care about others, to empathize and then put that compassion into real action is what enriches a community, and the people in it. However you help, it usually is about a cause that is important to YOU. Supporting a cause that is meaningful to you, or has somehow impacted your life, can take the form of volunteering your time or talents like you (and I) do. This is just as important as financial contributions.  
 
As for me, I adopted 3 rescue animals. I am now devoting myself to something that I see is an immediate need in the community - getting help for people (including youth) in our city, by way of education (prevention strategies) and seeking solutions to reducing the harm that the drug crisis is bringing, including the need for a detox centre, which is non-existent. Other volunteer groups, such as the Bear Clan, are helping to keep the streets (and people) safer by conducting patrols of the downtown area. The amount of needles they pick up, left by IV drug users is growing, and you only have to listen to the news to hear how c.meth is invading all areas of Canada. I choose to support the Westman Families of Addicts (aka Mama Warriors) who are working to address this urgent crisis. After starting up just last summer, they have a board of directors (volunteer) and are non-profit. The speaker they brought out from Winnipeg last month (for a Public Forum on drugs) will be coming back to speak to students, as his talk was that effective. There are plans to bring other knowledgeable speakers in. The aim is for services that everyone can access and afford, not just the rich few.  
 
Every little bit helps when it comes to charity. But it is important to do something, and not simply spout off or run other groups down. Negativity reflects like a mirror.

For those of you that would like to help, here is the link.....Thank you in advance!!  
 
 
https://www.gofundme.com/westman-families-of-addicts

candleinthewind2 said "    Johnbisonbear said "    JillandJacks said "Lots of groups help local people, like Samaritan House (food bank and safe & warm shelter), Helping Hands (soup kitchen). But there's one group that is addressing an URGENT need in our community - combating the crystal meth (& opioid) epidemic hitting our city. Westman Families of Addicts is a group that I've had help from personally, when I really needed immediate info on how to help someone wanting to get off crystal meth. This group (mostly moms) gave great support, pointed me to specific information & resources (not offered by local Drs, hospital or AFM - they all required a trip to Winnipeg), and continue to reach out and ask how we are both doing. Now I try to help this group out by putting up posters for the monthly meetings (2nd Tuesday of every month), and get discussion going on this topic, to break the stigma. People are so ashamed to admit that they or someone they love have a problem with drugs; we have to all work together if we want to have a safe and healthy community. I've seen people come to a meeting, unsure if they should speak, but looking desperately for help and support as they witness the effect that drugs have on their loved ones. City officials, Police and other service agency members all agree on the importance of this work - as we started at the grassroots level - hosting a Public Education Forum in January. This Forum is the catalyst for further educational presentations that BSD with help from Prairie Mountain Health and the City of Brandon will be organizing for high school-age kids sometime soon (we hope). Members of this group are volunteering their time, talents and resources to getting the word out - looking for funding to get a wholistic treatment centre, detox facility, resource library, and overall better housing arrangements for people needing help to get off and stay off drugs (and their families as well). The Go Fund Me Page is only to try to get some funds from which to operate from, not to build a facility. Not yet. We've had donations of coffee (for 100 ppl), printing, meeting space, and members have donated more individually. It is a non-profit organization, and any contribution, however small, is very welcome. Your donation would be put to work for something that this community NEEDS right now. The problem is not going away - we need to address it now. (And thank you for bringing up the topic of Charity. It is something that is often forgotten these days.) " the families that so are so desperately seeking help for their addicted loved ones need to pony up some cash too! I see that there has only been 335 dollars raised in one week. Sometimes you have to put your money where your mouth is! " Johnbisonbear....I am one of the families that is "desperately seeking help for my addicted loved one" I have ponyed up some cash to the go fund me. So I can honestly say that I did put my money where my mouth is!!! I don't have great sums of money!! The reason why go fund me gets set up is to help raise money...If you don't F***ing like it ...MOVE ON.......donate to what your heart desires...and the amount that you can.....but my first impression of you is that you don't have a heart, (maybe not a sound mind either)....you obviously have problems of your own......but to have such negativity to people that want such help for their loved ones!!! WoW! Really!! GOD BLESS YOU!! "

I am only pointing out the obvious and maybe that's why you are so angry I do have a heart and a sound mind. I do have strong opinions and the ability to point out the truth. Some people can't handle the truth and it looks like you are one of them..  
I am glad that you put your money where your mouth is! But the facts remain, only 5% of the reported members (give and take) have contributed to your go fund me page.  
I don't have greats sums of money either and would rather not see our taxes rise because of the addiction issue here in our city.  
Sometimes our health issues cost us money. It cost a tidy sum for our loved one to go to Winnipeg for cancer treatments, did we think someone else should pay the way? Nope, that's the reality of life!  
Your post touched a nerve with me as there was already a passionate plea for your cause on the first page of this discussion. No doubt if this goes for three pages there will be another post again. IF people want to give they will, end of!

Johnbisonbear said "    candleinthewind2 said "    Johnbisonbear said "    JillandJacks said "Lots of groups help local people, like Samaritan House (food bank and safe & warm shelter), Helping Hands (soup kitchen). But there's one group that is addressing an URGENT need in our community - combating the crystal meth (& opioid) epidemic hitting our city. Westman Families of Addicts is a group that I've had help from personally, when I really needed immediate info on how to help someone wanting to get off crystal meth. This group (mostly moms) gave great support, pointed me to specific information & resources (not offered by local Drs, hospital or AFM - they all required a trip to Winnipeg), and continue to reach out and ask how we are both doing. Now I try to help this group out by putting up posters for the monthly meetings (2nd Tuesday of every month), and get discussion going on this topic, to break the stigma. People are so ashamed to admit that they or someone they love have a problem with drugs; we have to all work together if we want to have a safe and healthy community. I've seen people come to a meeting, unsure if they should speak, but looking desperately for help and support as they witness the effect that drugs have on their loved ones. City officials, Police and other service agency members all agree on the importance of this work - as we started at the grassroots level - hosting a Public Education Forum in January. This Forum is the catalyst for further educational presentations that BSD with help from Prairie Mountain Health and the City of Brandon will be organizing for high school-age kids sometime soon (we hope). Members of this group are volunteering their time, talents and resources to getting the word out - looking for funding to get a wholistic treatment centre, detox facility, resource library, and overall better housing arrangements for people needing help to get off and stay off drugs (and their families as well). The Go Fund Me Page is only to try to get some funds from which to operate from, not to build a facility. Not yet. We've had donations of coffee (for 100 ppl), printing, meeting space, and members have donated more individually. It is a non-profit organization, and any contribution, however small, is very welcome. Your donation would be put to work for something that this community NEEDS right now. The problem is not going away - we need to address it now. (And thank you for bringing up the topic of Charity. It is something that is often forgotten these days.) " the families that so are so desperately seeking help for their addicted loved ones need to pony up some cash too! I see that there has only been 335 dollars raised in one week. Sometimes you have to put your money where your mouth is! " Johnbisonbear....I am one of the families that is "desperately seeking help for my addicted loved one" I have ponyed up some cash to the go fund me. So I can honestly say that I did put my money where my mouth is!!! I don't have great sums of money!! The reason why go fund me gets set up is to help raise money...If you don't F***ing like it ...MOVE ON.......donate to what your heart desires...and the amount that you can.....but my first impression of you is that you don't have a heart, (maybe not a sound mind either)....you obviously have problems of your own......but to have such negativity to people that want such help for their loved ones!!! WoW! Really!! GOD BLESS YOU!! " I am only pointing out the obvious and maybe that's why you are so angry I do have a heart and a sound mind. I do have strong opinions and the ability to point out the truth. Some people can't handle the truth and it looks like you are one of them..   I am glad that you put your money where your mouth is! But the facts remain, only 5% of the reported members (give and take) have contributed to your go fund me page.   I don't have greats sums of money either and would rather not see our taxes rise because of the addiction issue here in our city.   Sometimes our health issues cost us money. It cost a tidy sum for our loved one to go to Winnipeg for cancer treatments, did we think someone else should pay the way? Nope, that's the reality of life!   Your post touched a nerve with me as there was already a passionate plea for your cause on the first page of this discussion. No doubt if this goes for three pages there will be another post again. IF people want to give they will, end of! "

Image is very important for organizations seeking community support.  
 
It's never a good idea when representing an organization to shame possible donors simply because we don't agree with them.  
 
That was an unfortunate rant by Candleinthewind2.

check your inbox.

http://www.brandonsfoodforthought.com/  
 
 
helping financially disadvantaged kids get something in their tummy's.. Sooo many kids come to school hungry.. often this being their only access to food.

Food For Thought  
Friends of Education  
YMCA Strong Kids Campaign  
Brandon Bear Clan  
Samaritan House and their Safe and Warm Shelter  
 
You can also contact the Kinette or Kinsmen Clubs of Brandon if you're looking to do some volunteering. They are service groups that look to raise funds for the communities greatest needs.