How Will #TheGivingEffect Inspire You?

A few weeks ago, I received this email from TELUS asking if I’d be interested in organizing a charity event to inspire others.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjX0cq0Wo3Y

“We believe that every act of giving – big or small – inspires another. Acts of generosity create a ripple effect of giving with friends, family and social audiences. We call this #TheGivingEffect.

We invite you to plan a volunteer event on June 1st that you can invite friends, family, and your followers to join.

We want you to pick a cause that’s important to you. We want to make a $1,000 donation to the charity of your choice.”

Y’all know I’m passionate about Team Diabetes and the Canadian Diabetes Association. Choosing the charity to support was a no brainer. The event took a little more considering.

In the wake of the Fort McMurray fires, I’ve been trying to find a way to encourage people to support other charities. Giving money, especially in this Alberta economy, is a little more difficult, so I chose an angle to support the Diabetes Clothesline project that turns clothing donations into money that supports Camp Jean Nelson, research initiatives, and education programs for people with diabetes.

As people were trying to donate used clothing and goods to Fort Mac evacuees and being admonished for donating ‘garbage,’ I saw an avenue to collect these goods people were inspired to donate and turn them into support for the 9 million Canadians living with diabetes.

So my event, inspired by #TheGivingEffect was to park a big Diabetes Clothesline truck in my community, canvas neighbours and friends through local Facebook groups, and seek their support.

For 3 hours on a weekday evening, we collected clothes and household goods.

My sons are on board to run their first Team Diabetes events with me this summer so, to pitch in for the fund raising, they donned their Team D singlets and helped load the truck all afternoon.

700 lbs worth of donations were collected over the three hours, Zacharie and Charlie lifting all of it over the tailgate.

#TheGivingEffect inspired my kids, and brought a community together behind a cause. I’m so grateful to TELUS for their support of the Canadian Diabetes Association and for putting the challenge before me to find a way to give back.

If you couldn’t make it out to my little neighbourhood gathering, you can find a big red Diabetes Clothesline bin in your community, or call 1-800-505-5525 to schedule a pickup. They’ll come right to your door and grab the bags from you, it’s so easy.

For a few hours today, we planted a seed, how will you spread #TheGivingEffect in your community?