HOMES FOR HAITI: NEW HOPE

Washrooms

In partnership with Mission of Hope Haiti, FTC Canada is looking forward to a plan that brings renewed hope to families in Haiti.

The homes that we have raised funds to build, and continue to raise funds for are going to give Haitian families a safe roof over their heads. There's an additional dose of dignity in receiving a plot of land, a fruit bearing tree and a shade tree, gardening space and a separate sanitary washroom facility. 

Over time we hope to raise up a new community. Four homes were already up as of January 25, 2011.

When the earthquake struck in January 2010, it struck hard.  Some people lost family, others lost limbs, so many lost their homes.  The hope they hang on to now, is that the Mission of Hope and FTC Canada will help them start again.

With your support we can.  Please give generously - CLICK HERE.

Homes for Haiti

HIGH SCHOOLS MAKE A DIFFERENCE PT2

FTC Canada is deeply concerned that a lack of proper sleep for First Nation's children is detrimental to their development and health. Changes in sleeping habits can impair a child’s learning, memory and ability to concentrate. To try and address the problem of a serious shortage of adequate beds, FTC Canada has developed the First Nations Bunk Bed Program.

Meadowvale High School and West Credit High School in Mississauga are helping to implement such a vision, by partnering with several vendors in the Mississauga, ON and with FTC Canada. Together we are building bunk beds to send to First Nations communities north of Sioux Lookout, where conditions for families are deficient.

Please consider a gift towards the building of 300 beds by 2012!  CLICK HERE!

HAITI: BUILDING HOPE

On January 12, 2010 a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck near Port au Prince, Haiti, with a devastating outcome. Aftershocks measuring 4.5 or greater were recorded over the next 12 days, an estimated three million people were staggered.

To this day, families are living under tents, in what were meant to be makeshift, temporary, tent-cities. These "cities" are not a place to raise a family and the tents are not suitable structures.

WE WANT TO PROVIDE HOMES FOR HAITI

FTC Canada is currently preparing to build 10 homes! Click Here to see the plans (pdf file). A front level view is shown below.

Families lost their homes. Restore their hope, restore their future and give generously to this home building program. A year after the disaster, help families by giving them a roof over their head and restoring dignity. There is no way in the world they can do this on their own; they have lost everything!

It's your turn to bring new hope to Haiti!

CLICK HERE to help build hope!

HAITI TRIBUTE: TO MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE

This article was originally featured on this blog on April 16, 2010.

Ali Matthews is an accomplished Singer-Songwriter from Stratford, ON. Her love for creating and producing music has earned her respect from her peers and fans throughout North America. She is also a long time supporter and spokesperson for FTC Canada.

Her brother is Dr. Anthony Brown, FTC Canada Medical Team Advisor, who helped lead the very first FTC medical team to Honduras in 2007. In January, just days after an earthquake rocked Port-au-Prince Haiti, Dr. Brown was working diligently to secure medicines and supplies and coordinating plans with FTC to send a medical team to the country.

As Ali stood back watching all this unfold, she wondered how she might help too. In the best way she knew how, Ali headed into the studio to produce her own version of the Bob Dylan classic, "To Make You Feel My Love". When images started coming back from the team in Haiti, it was a natural next step to pair music and photos and share it with her fans. The following video can also be found on YouTube.

To learn more about Ali Matthews visit www.alimatthews.com

FIRST NATION BUNK BED PROGRAM: REPORT FROM MISH

Reports from the community of Mishkeegogamang, ON (Mish) indicate that the first 50 beds are assembled and that by all accounts, “It's been a great experience.”

Karen Ward, FTC Canada First Nations Programs, reported that her team of young adults, most from the Mish Adventure Summer Program, have had a truly amazing time helping assemble beds and seeing the immediate impact it is having.

Parents are appreciative, perhaps overwhelmed by the generosity of the gift of bunk beds.  One young person commented, “Lots of people come up to Mish - but I've never seen anyone do anything like you are doing - giving us beds to make sure the kids have a place to sleep.” He said it's such a blessing for his people.

You can be a part of this work in the far North.  Your gift will go immediately to helping ensure children are not sleeping on a cold floor this winter. Click here to go to the Bunk Bed donation page or click the button below to make your donation immediately.

 

AWARD WINNING SINGER-SONGWRITER LENDS A HAND

It was a partnership that started back in 2005 and culminated in a song!  “After the Song” was penned by multi-award winning Singer-Songwriter, Ali Matthews and added to a reissue of her Christmas CD, “On Angels’ Wings”.

Ali Matthews

On Sunday December 5th Ali held her Annual Christmas Concert in support of FTC Canada. The event held in Stratford, Ontario, at the elegant Church Restaurant, was hotly anticipated by people far and wide and was packed out.

During the concert, Ali talked about how “After the Song” came to be.  In thinking about the struggles of others around world, she could not help but think that, once Christmas ended, those people were likely still struggling.  It became clear to her, and she wrote:

Finding the lost, feeding the hungry

The motherless child without a prayer

Ending the wars, calming the angry

And soothing the souls in despair

When we can love a world that’s broken apart

That’s when Christmas will start

Ali will donate a portion of her concert ticket sales to FTC Canada to support the ongoing work of feeding hungry children in Canada and around the world.

You can receive a copy of “On Angels’ Wings” for a $20.00 donation.  Just click the button below to donate now. Please share this post with your friends so they can enjoy this special offer.
(offer available to December 17, 2010: we can not guarantee delivery for December 25, 2010)

On Angels' Wings

2005 Seasonal Song Of The Year*: "On Angels’ Wings"

2006 Seasonal Song Of The Year*: "Brand New Miracle"

*GMA Canada Covenant Awards

CHARACTER: HIGH SCHOOLS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

It used to be that the phrase, “a person of character”, inherently meant “good” character. As we look at more than a decade where our politicians, business leaders, sports stars and celebrities have drained the previous positive inference, out of the word character, a ray of hope is emerging ... from our high schools.

It is one thing to employ a tag-line or slogan that includes the idea of building character in our students of today, it is another to build and implement programs that both teach our children and put into practice the principles held forth.

Meadowvale High School and West Credit High School in Mississauga are achieving integrity in implementing such a vision, by partnering with several vendors in the city and with FTC Canada. Together we are building bunk beds to send to First Nations communities north of Sioux Lookout, where conditions for families are deficient.

According to the 2007 Child Health Summit, "Living conditions for First Nations people rank 63^rd in the world - comparable with developing countries - and one of the root causes of poor health in these communities."

A lack of proper sleep for children is detrimental to their development and health. Changes in sleeping habits can impair a child’s learning, memory and ability to concentrate. To try and address the problem of a serious shortage of adequate beds, FTC Canada has developed the First Nations Bunk Bed Program.  
 

This Christmas is the launch of a three-year program that FTC Canada has initiated with the support of major corporate partner, Vale.  The goal is to deliver at least 100 beds a year for three years to several First Nations communities.

“Our hope is to provide proper sleeping spaces for at least 600 children in these communities”, said FTC Canada’s First Nations Coordinator Karen Ward.

We have the support of many people, however, more beds need to be built, bedding and other supplies are still required and the product needs to be delivered to the Far North. We invite you to be a part of this vital project. 

Please CLICK HERE to help now!
  

THANKSGIVING FOOD DROP: HAMILTON ON

Saturday October 9, 2010

On Saturday October 9^th, for third year in a row, FTC Canada, Marwan Hage and Hage’s Heroes, the Hamilton Tiger Cats and Caravan Logistics distributed Family Food Boxes to families in need in The City of Hamilton on the Thanksgiving weekend holiday.

Eight distribution partners joined forces to serve the families in need including , Eva Rothwell Centre, Hamilton East Kiwanis Boys’ & Girls’ Club, The Hamilton Dream Center, Hughson Street Baptist Church, King’s Way Blessing Centre, West Hamilton Wrap Around, and City Kidz.

Weighing approximately 30 pounds, the Family Food Box can provide a family of 4 with enough food for about three days.  In the 1000 boxes distributed or alongside, were quality products from our Corporate Partners: Nestle Waters, Oakrun Bakery, Advantage Packaging, and Zellers Fairview Mall (St. Catharines).  MacNabb Presbyterian Church also provided food for the boxes.

Each agency identified children and families in need and distributed a voucher to be exchanged for a Family Food Box.  It turned out to be a great day: cool autumn air, clear skies and warm sun. 

Over 30 volunteers from Oakville based Caravan Logistics provided support for the day. Caravan Logistics also donated a truck and driver to transport the food boxes from the FTC Canada warehouse in Guelph to Ivor Wynn Stadium in Hamilton.

Marwan Hage and several Tiger Cat players joined Caravan volunteers to hand out the family food boxes and the Hamilton Tiger Cats and Compass Group supplied BBQ hot dogs for 500 children at the event.

Last year FTC Canada shipped over $1,000,000 of food and other essentials into the city of Hamilton partnering with agencies working directly with families in need of food.

PLANNING: TEAM TO GUATEMALA

FTC Canada is currently in Guatemala, where plans are being made for the next Medical-Dental team.

The team will land in Guatemala in early November.  You can learn more about the work at our website (click here) or follow the team's daily activities at this blog.

FTC Canada Medical Team Advisor, Dr. Anthony Brown is scouting out locations for the next team.  Joining him in this process, is FTC Canada President Ken Dick.  Selecting a good location means first meeting the needs of the community where we will serve.  Meeting local officials and community leaders is an important part of planning.

Sites must support the "portable" team; allowing room for a pharmacy, food and supplies, and of course doctor and dental areas.  The later two require waiting space, room for practitioners, assistants and if required translators to see patients and private areas that allows for discreet interviews and minor surgeries.

There will be 5 locations chosen, all within reach of Guatemala City.  This is a region we have been in before, so there is a good chance we will be making a return visit to sites we have previously served.

HAITI FUNDRAISER: DINNER PROGRAM

We are looking forward to the Haiti Fundraiser coming up on September 24, 2010 in Burlington, ON.  Tickets are still available for this special evening gathering.

The evening program looks like it will provide a great deal of insight into Haiti:

Program:
Doors Open ~ 6:00 PM
Dinner ~ 7:00 PM
Speakers for the evening

~ Paramedic Grant Rumford - Mr Rumford, was stationed at Mission of Hope in Haiti when the earthquate struck.
~ Dr. Anthony Brown, FTC Canada Medical Advisor - Dr. Brown will talk about the FTC Canada Emergency Team that was sent to Haiti 8 days after the quake.
~ Otis Garrison, VP Mission of Hope Haiti - Mr. Garrixon will share his thoughts on the future of Haiti

HAITI FUNDRAISING DINNER
BURLINGTON CONVENTION CENTRE
SEPTEMBER 24, 2010, 7:00 PM
DOORS OPEN: 6:00 PM

Please click Purchase Tickets to go to the ticket Ticket Page.

HAITI FUNDRAISER: SPEAKER ANNOUNCED

On September 24, 2010, Paramedic Grant Rumford will take us on a journey to the very heart of Haiti.

FTC Canada sent Grant Rumford to Haiti to work with partner NGO, Mission of Hope. In May 2009 Grant decided to take a leave from the Halton Paramedic Service. This was an opportunity of a lifetime for his whole family and a chance for Grant to provide leadership for the emergency services at the Hospital of Hope.

At the FTC Canada Haiti Fundraiser you will hear all about Haiti One, the ambulance that would eventually make it's way to Haiti and play a key role in a time of crisis. You will learn about how the earthquake on January 12, 2010 changed so many lives and thrust Grant headlong into the epicenter of the disaster.

FTC Canada sent an emergency medical team to Haiti just 8 days after the quake struck Port au Prince. This was an unexpected surprise for Grant and a huge boost of confidence as he had his "crew" from Halton working alongside him in the battle to save lives!

You will not want to miss this event:

HAITI FUNDRAISING DINNER
BURLINGTON CONVENTION CENTRE
SEPTEMBER 24, 2010, 7:00 PM
DOORS OPEN: 6:00

Tickets: $50 per ticket, $400 per table of 8
Please click HERE to go to the Haiti Fundraiser page to purchase tickets.

HAITI FUNDRAISER

Like no other time in history there is a loss of hope in Haiti. FTC Canada is there to help restore and rebuild that hope for without it there is no future.

Please join us on September 24, 2010 for an event that will serve to remind you that supporting and caring for your brothers and sisters in Haiti has really just begun.

HAITI FUNDRAISING DINNER
BURLINGTON CONVENTION CENTRE
SEPTEMBER 24, 2010, 7:00 PM
DOORS OPEN: 6:00

Tickets: $50 per ticket, $400 per table of 8

Please click HERE to go to the Haiti Fundraiser page to purchase tickets.

PAKISTAN: FLOOD DISASTER

Please give to FTC Canada to help families in Pakistan cope with the flood.

MEDICAL-DENTAL: TEAM TO GUATEMALA

I can always be sure when returning from a Medical-Dental Team excursion, that I will be asked several times, “When is the next trip and where is it going?”. Because of the preparation time required, we are careful to leave sufficient time between travels to Central America. My answer in February, as we returned from El Salvador was, “Sometime later in the year”!

Dr. Tony Brown (Medical Advisor) and I had to make two major decisions. One, where do we go next, and two, when do we go? It did not take long to decide we should return to Guatemala. Why Guatemala?

The medical/dental needs in Central America are everywhere and unlimited opportunities to share our expertise are welcomed in several countries. Since 2007 we have taken teams to Honduras, Guatemala (2008), Nicaragua and El Salvador. In making the decision to return to Guatemala we talked to the people who partner with us in that country, reviewed recent events that have impacted the people there, including floods and earthquakes and looked carefully at the current political situation and safety factors. There was nothing to keep us from going to Guatemala and plans are under way for a team to be there November 6-14, 2010.

We are often asked if we have problems finding people for the team? No is the short answer. Since our first team to Honduras in 2007, our roster of medical professionals and other support staff has been growing. Our largest team, 30 strong, went to El Salvador in February 2010. This we have discovered, is a level at which we can operate efficiently.

Dr. Tony and I will be visiting Guatemala at the end of September to visit communities where the teams may visit and scout out suitable locations to run our clinics.

If you are a medical professional and would like to get involved please contact me at ken@ftccanada.ca. By the way, there's a good chance we may be in El Salvador, April, 2011.

Ken Dick, President

EL SALVADOR MEDICAL TEAM VIDEO

In February 2010 the largest Medical-Dental team yet (30) was assembled by FTC Canada for the journey to San Salvador, El Salvador, CA. This would mark the second such trip to El Salvador.

The team spent 5 days working in partnership with other medical professionals and support staff from Feed The Children Central America operating medical clinics and food distributions in the poorest of neighbourhoods around the busy city.

The video features music by singer-songwriter Ali Matthews (www.alimatthews.com).

GOOD NEWS ON FOOD DROP IN THUNDER BAY

Thunder Bay families that were in need of food support, received it on July 8, 2010 in the form of a Family Food Box from FTC Canada.

Details of the distribution were picked up by the local press who shone a spotlight on the good work of An Eagle's Cry Centre operated by Sky and Angie Hedricks. The Centre coordinated the event including distribution of coupons to families most desperately in need.

Please click on the following links to learn more about the local coverage:

Click here to read a report in the tbnewswatch.com

Click here to see Thunder Bay News coverage (video opens automatically)

FAMILY FOOD BOXES GO TO FAMILIES IN THUNDER BAY

An eager and terrific team of volunteers, some from An Eagle's Cry Centre (our host) and some from the FTC Canada Mish Adventure Camp Staff had the entire food box distribution ready to go a day before the actual event!

This included 350 family food boxes (approx. 22lbs each) and 350 hygiene boxes (personal essentials), food and cold drinks provided by the Centre, and games and crafts for the children. There turned out to be an added couple of bonuses for families picking up their boxes. Some families attending had no idea the Centre was open for them throughout the year. Families with small children were also able to help themselves to plenty of children's clothing.

Sky and Angie Hedricks, founders of the Centre were on hand to manage the intake process and to speak with families about the centre and its various programs. Each family had received a voucher which they exchanged for the boxes.

Families were genuinely appreciative of the support and excited to get this type of assistance when sometimes they were running short on food and supplies. Thunder Bay has an improving employment situation but many people are still living in low-income situations.

Our hope is that families in Thunder Bay will remember the generosity of An Eagles Cry Centre and turn to it whenever they find they are in need.

FAMILY FOOD BOX DISTRIBUTION: THUNDER BAY

Thursday July 8, 2010

Eagles Cry Life Centre in Thunder Bay is distributing 350 food boxes and 350 hygiene boxes to needy families in partnership with FTC Canada.

The distribution will take place at An Eagles Cry Life Centre on 100 Simpson Street in Thunder Bay, ON today (centre founder Sky Hedricks in photo). Volunteers and staff from Eagles Cry will hand out the food boxes (approx. 22 pounds) along with boxes of personal hygiene products.

FTC Canada partners with organizations and companies throughout Canada to provide food and supplies to those in need. Recipients are identified by local social service organizations and receive a food voucher which they redeem at the event. FTC Canada First Nations Camp team will run a children’s program during the event. FTC Canada runs summer camps in Mishkeegogamang and King Fisher Reserves.

MISH ADVENTURES 2010: LEADERS

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There are a high percentage of First Nations children and youth in most of the communities in Northern Ontario. In Mishkeegogamang we have had the privilege of meeting and spending time with several of them over the over the course of three years.

Lauren has been attending Mish Adventures every year since it started in 2007. He is one of the children committed to coming as often as he could. There was always a smile on his face and a desire to help out where he could. “I’m going to make different choices than the some of the youth I know” was one of the first things he said to us. Every summer, Lauren returns to camp and seems to be on a path to making some good choices.

When asked why FTC Canada to such invests in a children’s program in a community that is so far away, the answer that has most been appropriate is, “If the relationships we build with the people in the community changes the direction of even one person’s life, it is a good thing.” If that person chooses hope instead of despair, it was worth it.

Lauren has agreed to be a Junior Leader at Mish Adventures this summer. Helping him find the skills and talents he was born with and developing his leadership potential is an exciting adventure. Our goals at camp are:

• To meet the needs of the children;
• Give children a place to forget their sadness;
• Develop long-term relationships.
  

We hope to inspire young people to become leaders, in the camp program and in their community. We are excited about our forth summer in Mish. Goals are being met and the journey many of these children are on may, change transform and entire community’s outlook on the future.

Learn more about supporting a child at Mish Adventures: Click Here!