Local Red Cross workers have had their hands full with penny-filled piggy banks and cash-filled kettles in recent weeks.
Since the Haiti earthquake on Jan. 12, it seems like Red Deer and area residents have tried to outdo one another in charitable giving.
The Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools raised $48,829 over a two-week period.
When matched by the federal government, it will almost total $100,000.
“It blew us away, we never thought it would come off with that much,” said Jeanne Davis, communications director for Red Deer Catholic.
Much of the money was raised through “purchasing privileges” by staff and students, but also through bake sales and personal donations. It went to a Catholic charity working in Haiti.
The public school system is no slouch, either. Although there was no fundraising total available, community relations director Bruce Buruma gave the example of G.W. Smith Elementary, where a Heroes for Haiti fundraiser raised more than $2,000.
“What they wanted students to do wasn’t to just run to Mom and Dad and say ‘Can I have $5 for Haiti?’ They asked students to actually make a sacrifice . . . (for instance) using their allowance money. We had some kids who went out and shovelled walks for money for that,” said Buruma.
Residents at Victoria Park Retirement handed over their kettle, stuffed with about $2,500, to the Red Cross on Wednesday.
Over at Masterpiece Aspen Ridge, the disaster has been a hot topic and residents and staff there collected “$400 or $500,” according to general manager Scott Hepfner.
“They understand hardships and have been through a lot, the seniors, so they understand and appreciate what’s going on there,” Hepfner said.
The Red Deer Red Cross has no total tally yet for local contributions, but branch manager Rhonda Schwab said the response has been “phenomenal.”
“The quickness and the amount of donations coming in here has even exceeded the (2004 Southeast Asia) tsunami,” Schwab said.
Schwab has seen two children come in who held birthday parties where instead of asking for presents, they asked their guests to donate to Haiti. These two donated $89 and $254, she said.
Some youths in Big Valley held a car wash and raised more than $1,400, Schwab said. Pubs, hair salons, and fire halls have all donated or plan to donate, she said.
“The community is just stepping up to the plate,” Schwab said.
Other fundraising for Red Cross include:
• Nurses at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre raised more than $7,000 through donations and a silent auction.
• A Haiti night at Restaurant 27 and Lounge raised $10,517, and staff are planning to make charity dinners a semi-annual event.
• Local indie rock band Freedom in Pieces played a concert with a few other bands and raised about $500.
Upcoming events:
• Lacombe tonight: Heart and Soul for Haiti, a Lacombe benefit concert at 7:30 p.m. at College Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church. All donations to be used to rebuild clinics and water systems, and for food and shelter. No charge. Call 403-783-3381 Ext 4127 for details.
• Rocky Mountain House tonight: Hope for Haiti benefit concert at Christian Reform Church at 7 p.m.
• Red Deer on Saturday: Doors open at 8 p.m. for Rock for Haiti — featuring Freedom in Pieces, The Klamdaggers, Night at the Chelsea
and 89 — at Red Deer College’s Far Side Bar and Grill. There’s a $7 cover for the 18-and-over event.
mgauk@www.reddeeradvocate.com