Let Us Help Give The Less Fortunate A Special Christmas This Year.

Every year, at this time of year, we start worrying about our holiday plans.  Who is going to hold the dinner at their house this year, who is going to offer space for out of town friends and family to stay and all the things you are going to do, to make your Christmas special for you and your family. Many people have found it necessary to cut back from previous years for economical reasons but, still provide a decent Christmas for all.

While we are buying the holiday food and numerous, expensive toys to keep Bobby and Susie happy, we don't think of the less fortunate people in our community.  The parents that have next to nothing. There are sacrifices for themselves, so they can provide SOME kind of Christmas for their kids. They may eat less, cut back on necessities they need for themselves or, even borrow money from friends and family that will be a struggle to pay back.

Luckily, there are organizations that are able to help during the Christmas season and throughout the winter.  They provide hot meals when they can to the homeless and less fortunate.  This year has already been a tough year for food banks.  They haven't had much stock to fill the shelves.  Although, many companies give them food, there is still a shortage.  Donations from the communities through food drives and fundraisers are also a great help.  Unfortunately, it's hard to keep up with the needs of the increasing amount of the less fortunate due to more and more people needing help each year.  More people are losing jobs or having their hours cut back and even taking pay cuts.

There are great companies that donate to organizations what they produce, such as Turkeys and Hams, bags of frozen vegetables and potatoes and such, to provide a Christmas dinner for those less fortunate.  It's all cooked and prepared to serve at various places such as, The Downtown Mission, Street Help and the Windsor Youth Centre, to name a few. For those that have larger families and it would be easier for them to provide a Christmas at home, there are food banks that offer Christmas baskets.  They try to provide holiday favourites like stuffing, cranberries and maybe even a Christmas cake or cookies.  You can also get donated toys from many locations to wrap and give as gifts.

So, this holiday season, while you are out getting everything you need, think of buying a doll or toy truck or crayons and colouring book to donate so these less fortunate kids can receive a present and not feel left out compared to those more fortunate.  It doesn't need to be expensive, they will appreciate just having something new to play with.

Think of a few extra cans of food to donate.  Many grocery stores have a drop off bin or they sell pre-packaged bag and boxes off food you can purchase at the register that will be donated.  Do some extra baking and drop off treats that many children don't get on a regular basis.  If you are crafty, you could knit some hats, scarves and mittens or blankets to donate.  You wouldn't believe how appreciative people are for such items at this time of year.

Clean out your closets if you have old things you don't use.  Clothes, including warm socks and thermal underclothes, old blankets, coats, towels and toiletries, as some places offer a place to sleep and shower.  Most people don't even think about toiletries.  Baby foods and formulas are also needed. You can never donate too much of that.

More and more people have taken to the streets handing out containers of warm food they have left over or, make a cheap and easier dinner and package it and hand it out to those on the streets.

It's understandable some cannot afford to donate their selves but they could volunteer at organizations to help with meals and serving them, handing out toys, help write Santa letters or just read a Christmas story.  If more people even bought 1 or 2 cans of anything to donate or, since food banks are now trying to offer more food groups, items such as hamburger, chicken and eggs are divided up to make smaller packages to hand out.

Every amount of money or grocery store gift card you can donate, big or small, can purchase an array of items like more food, items to help buy supplies shelters need so they can assist those in need.

While you are out hustling and bustling this holiday season, think of something big, or small, that would make someone's family have a special Christmas, full of memories that will last forever.

Although, this story has been about the Holiday season, this help is definitely needed

throughout the entire year.  No one should have to go without!

The CP Holiday Train rolls into Windsor December 2, 2014.
It arrives at 4:30pm and the show starts at 5:30pm.
at
CP Yard at Erie St West and Janette St.

Over it's 3 week journey to get to Windsor,  it stops in every community collecting food and money donations.  They have a concert at every stop that is free but, they do ask you to donate money or a non-perishable food item.  All contributions stay in our community.

CP Holiday Train Website

http://www.cpr.ca/en/community/holiday-train

Happy Holidays from all of us, to all the friends of the 

Windsor Business Networks,

and the Mashup Kaffe.

Written By:  Mike Crawford

Help The Stray Cats Survive This Winter.

When summer arrives, there are many groups, organizations and just regular citizens that jump in to help the animals in the extreme heat.  They watch out for dogs left in hot cars or, check on dogs in the neighbourhoods that are tied outside for long periods of time to make sure that they have water and shelter from the sun.  Same goes for the feral and stray cats that live in the alleys or backyards of people.  It's much easier for them to find shelter on their own.  People take it upon themselves to throw some food out to them and set out bowls of water when it's hot and water is scarce.

There are several groups that reach out to these colonies of cats and take care of them.  They have what they call TNR programs.  This stands for trap, neuter and release cats to prevent over-population.  Vaccinations can also be included in this program.  These groups also place cats and kittens into foster homes hoping that eventually, they will find a forever home.  If you take a cat in to foster, food and supplies are provided to you and medical bills are covered by the group you are fostering for.  A few such groups that are found in Windsor are, Earn Your Wings, For The Love Of Grace and Kittenade, as well as others, are formed by volunteers and concerned citizens.  They rarely receive regular funding and they raise most of their money through yard sales, bake sales, craft sales and other fundraisers.  They rely on donations also. Besides monetary donations, food is a major item that is needed.  Blankets and food bowls, toys and other things can be used.  

Summer is coming to an end and winter is on the way.  A lot of people stop helping the feral and stray cats because they don't see them around.  This is because they are off somewhere trying to keep warm in the cold temperatures.  If you still provide food and water in the same area you did all summer, they will know where to go.  Food and water is essential to help them survive in the cold. Something that has become quite popular is people building inexpensive shelters and food stations for cats in their backyards and in the alleys.  They can be made from plastic bins, wooden boxes, cardboard boxes and lined with Styrofoam sheets, straw or wood shavings.  Anything that will hold moisture such as blankets or towels are not a good option.  Many designs and plans can be found online to make easy shelters if you are willing to buy a few things and take a little time to make them. You can also contact people from these groups that would be glad to help you along.

In addition to all the above mentioned donations, you could also donate materials to the groups to build shelters.  There are volunteers that would be happy to receive them and donate the time to build them.  There can never be too many shelters.  It's true that cats grow thick coats to help keep them warm but, with the winters that have been hitting us with extreme cold, extra protection is needed for them to survive.  Some, are able to seek out shelter on their own, in barns, sheds, woodpiles and other places.  A lot are not so lucky and have no where to go and do not have a regular food source. Unfortunately, many will not make it through the winter just as some, during the summer, do not make it during extreme heat.  Sadly, it is the cold temperatures that claim the most lives.

With all the efforts of trapping, spaying/neutering, vaccinating and having the wounded taken care of, will be useless if people don't jump in to help shelter these cats if they can.  All the hard work of raising money and collecting donations is wasted if cats are left to perish during the winter months.  

Others cats are lucky enough that someone takes them in and makes them their pet.

The efforts of these groups and organizations seems to have decreased the population of feral and stray cats.  There are so many more colonies out there that just keep growing.  You can contact any of these groups to see if they can help with trapping colonies in your neighbourhood.  This will definitely keep the colonies from growing.  Colonies can grow at a fairly rapid rate.  Another good reason to have these cats spayed and neutered is they become a bit less scared. Getting care and food helps them live together better.  Less fighting and growing used to one another creates less problems in the areas that they live.  A happy cat is a more friendly cat.

So, if you are one that has been feeling bad for stray cats in your area but, weren't sure what you could do, I hope this article gives you an idea or two.  Every animal, no matter what kind it is, deserves to live the best life possible.  Consider donating items or time if you can or, take in a foster!

Cardboard Shelter

Shelter maid from a Tote Bin

Written By:  Mike Crawford