The Howe and Green families have received a wealth of community support. Here are some of the major helpers over the past year:
• Alberta Yardcare is providing ongoing yard care.
• Big Bend Market donated a side of buffalo meat.
• Dance Traxx Studio donated one year’s worth of dance lessons for the three youngest girls.
• Denny’s Restaurant in Red Deer raised nearly $2,800 for the family.
• Employees of Nova Chemicals raised about $8,000 after holding a barbecue and bonspiel. A cheque and gift cards were presented to the family. Employees also organized meals for the family the first couple of weeks after the fatal crash. About 15 workers raised about $1,000 for Christmas gifts.
• Mason Martin Homes, along with other trades, paid for a complete kitchen renovation and new flooring on the main floor of the family’s home. Mason Martin Homes raised $8,500 after auctioning off a children’s playhouse, and invited the children to be on the builders’ float in the Westerner Days parade.
• ME Global employees Kelly Williamson, Sonny Nagra and Darren Wesemann wanted to help their former colleague Krista’s children, so they co-ordinated the creation of an educational trust fund. They raised dollars through other employees in the company and beyond, plus the ME Global organization gave a substantial donation so the children can easily go on to post-education schooling. The opening of that trust fund is coming to fruition, with the help of the family.
• Mount Calvary Lutheran Church raised more than $90,000, which is paying for daily household items and children’s activities. Most of the money was raised during a public auction last April.
• Quik-Way Shelters and Vinyl Fencing installed a new vinyl fence at the family home.
• Red Deer Food Bank donated four truckloads of food shortly after the tragedy.
• WestJet, VANOC organizing committee, friends in Vancouver and others arranged for the family to attend the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
• Young Guns organization outfitted Cory Howe with hockey gear, as well as did a fundraiser for a general trust fund for the children. Money for the trust fund has come from far away as Southern California. Donations can be dropped off at any credit union in Alberta and Saskatchewan in an envelope addressed to Foam Lake Credit Union, Brad and Krista Howe Memorial Trust and transit number, 80838-889. The account number is 820000016171.