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Open letter to someone struggling with mental health

2013-05-21T16:43:47Z

Dear Friend:

I know you don’t know me. That doesn’t really matter right now. What matters is that I know that you are out there. You think that you are alone, that no one can see your suffering. Maybe that is because you hide it. Maybe you were taught to be brave and suck it up. Or maybe you wear your emotions on your sleeve and people have become tired of listening. Maybe no one knows that this time you are in big trouble and it feels like no one cares. It is often hard to make people understand. Sometimes it doesn’t even feel worth the effort.

Not Myself Today

2013-05-14T22:24:24Z

Over 500,000 Canadians missed work today because of a mental health issue.
$51 billion is the annual economic cost of mental illness in Canada
1 in 3 workplace disability claims are related to mental illness

These statistics are staggering. 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness directly and those who do not personally have a mental health problem will likely have a friend, colleague or family member who is dealing with a mental health issue. Everyone is affected by mental health.

Give it Up for Hunger

2013-05-07T16:11:57Z

Could you choose between paying rent and buying food? This is the impossible decision many of the 123,000 people in the Alberta Capital Region who are living in poverty, and the thousands still on the margins, have to make for themselves and their families.

May 6th to 10th marks Hunger Awareness Week – a week dedicated to educating people on the real challenges households in Canada face when it comes to food security and gaining access to quality food.

The Search is On

2013-04-30T14:52:53Z

It's that time of year when United Way searches for talented, passionate, and community-minded individuals to join our Sponsored Campaign Representative Program. Not only is this SCR role unique and full of fun, it provides participants with valuable skills and knowledge about how they can make a difference in our community. In fact, most participants will tell you that this role changed their life.

Thanks for Your Time

2013-04-23T15:02:09Z

National Volunteer Week takes place April 21st – 27th and it’s the perfect time to recognize the tremendous impact that volunteers have on the well-being of our society and to celebrate the individuals that are so giving of their time and energy. It’s also a time to consider how each one of us might lend a hand.

Celebrating the 10th annual RISE Awards

2013-04-16T16:05:42Z

Immigrants are a key resource for building and strengthening Canada, particularly in light of our aging population, declining birth rate and the global competition for talent. In 2001, nearly one half of recent immigrants living in Edmonton were between the ages of 25 and 44. The Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers (EMCN) sees a future where all citizens walk with newcomers to bridge their transition into community. To achieve this vision, EMCN serves as a key catalyst and leading collaborator in positively shaping the attitudes, behaviors and practices of organizations and individuals to value the diversity that newcomers bring to community.

Homeless Connect Creates a Welcoming Environment For All

2013-04-09T16:23:14Z

On Sunday, April 7, the Shaw Conference Centre opened its doors to hundreds of individuals experiencing homelessness or at-risk of becoming homeless, for the 10th Homeless Connect. This bi-annual event provides guests with the opportunity to receive free services such as dental care, haircuts, employment and training services, and a hot meal.

Standing United to Kick Poverty

2013-04-01T19:50:05Z

Our motto at FC Edmonton is Stand United. That message means one thing to our players on the pitch – they win as a group, lose as a group (although hopefully not too often) and they always stand up for each other – but off the pitch that message speaks to our commitment to this great city we all call home.

Let Me Tell You a Story

2013-03-26T18:49:36Z

It was an exciting and proud day for me last week when I received an email from my oldest daughter; attached was a photograph of my granddaughter, standing proudly by the C.O.W. bus holding a picture she had colored. Another photo was also attached, a picture of the book they had borrowed to read. The bus had visited their small community of Provost.

Daily Kindness

2013-03-19T15:02:25Z

Looking for some daily inspiration? You might want to take a gander at Michelle Lam, a 20 year old student on a mission to empower people of all ages to share kindness through their daily actions with her website called Project Three Six Five.