March 5, 2010
NICE CANADIANS, EH?
Well, if the recent Vancouver
Winter Olympics showed the world anything, it was that Canadians are truly nice
people. At 18KARAT, you’ll find that we’re nice and compassionate and
here’s a story to illustrate that. During the past Christmas season, several
18Karat people spent their holiday in the most giving way. Grant Ohman, 18Karat
Partner and Sales Director, his daughter Liesa and Glenn Welton spent 10 days
through Christmas in La Hermosa, Mexico, as part of a work crew rebuilding an
orphanage. Before the trip, donated building materials and household items
collected from several generous businesses, were loaded in a container and
shipped from the 18Karat warehouse. When the crew arrived on December 18, the
job was more ambitious than expected. The 28-person Canadian crew worked
alongside a Mexican volunteer crew. In the one week, an entire new roof was
built, windows and doors were replaced and the interior was ready for finishing
work.
In addition, the volunteers
raised $5000 and a variety of products to make up 100 hampers of basic
necessities such as food, household supplies, toiletries and little gifts
for the children. These hampers were given to the very poorest families in the
hills of Rosarito on Christmas Day.
The orphanage houses 50
children up to the age of 12. Most of the children are from single parent homes,
but because the parent has fallen on hard times and cannot afford to feed them
or take care of their basic needs. For many, it is a safe place while the mother
(typically) is at work during the day and returns at night so the family unit is
still together.
This week, Liesa Ohman, as
well as another employee of 18Karat, Josh Cherry, have gone to Mexico again with
another volunteer work crew, to continue the work that was started in December.
This project is sponsored by the Vineyard Christian Church in Abbotsford, BC and
18Karat is proud to be a part of this mission.
