An Alternative to Exchanging Tube Socks and Fruit Cake

December 3, 2010
by Crystal Laderas

I’m not the biggest Christmas enthusiast. Every December for the last five years I’ve spent studying for exams and writing three essays at time. So when I hear all-Christmas music on 94.3 or see trees lit up I press my mittens over my ears and sing, “la la la” to suppress any added stress that comes when thinking about how I’m supposed to pay for Christmas gifts.  This year I’m finished school early. I’m handing in my last undergraduate essay on Tuesday after taking my last two exams, but it hasn’t left me much time to work the past few weeks. So when my friends began discussing a gift exchange this year, I got my grinch on and argued that no one in my family is getting a $100 gift, and neither would they, and a $20 gift exchange couldn’t satisfy the needs of some who are already working professionals.

This year, one of my friends also suggested that we create a Christmas hamper for a family.

Rather than spend money on the gifts you regift, I can go through my kitchen closet, maybe purchase a few items to fufill my contribution to the hamper; two packages of brown rice, one package of oatmeal and two cans of tuna. Between the 10 or so friends contributing, we’ll collectively have a hearty hamper to drop off.

The Feed-a-Family program allows participants to make and delivery a hamper to a family provided by the Christmas Cheer Board. Just register at 989-5680 and try to do so quickly as Christmas is fast approaching. And depending on your budget, you can easily split the suggested shopping list between friends, a class or at work. Get your boss or instructor to buy the turkey, and staff or students can  contribute smaller items like pancake mix, spaghetti sauce or juice.

But if you can’t get anything organized, remember to bring a non-perishable food item to the Red River College Princess Street campus next week. Journalists for Human Rights will be in the atrium collecting food at lunch and a drop off bin will be located at the Student’s Association all day.

Get Inked for a Good Cause

December 5, 2010
by Andrew Kess

Phase II is giving back.

On Wednesday, December 22nd, the artists at Phase II will be giving people tattoos on a first come, first serve basis… and not see one cent of the profits. They’ll be giving any and all proceeds to Winnipeg Harvest and Winnipeg Cheer Board. 

The artists, Sean Cushnie and Michael Brito, are also encouraging anyone who has an appointment with them during the month of December to bring in non-perishable food items for a hamper that they have started for needy families.

To get the most out of the day, the artists will only be doing small tattoos, around $100 a piece, so they can get as much people in and therefore, collect as much as possible. No appointments will be made that day so again, it’s a first come, first serve basis.

This is one of the most innovative ways I’ve ever heard of helping out and giving back. It’s a really interesting idea and I wish Phase II the best of luck. And plus, if you were to get a tattoo at this event, what better story is there then to say you did it for charity?

This week I’ll be collecting for a hamper for Winnipeg Harvest for the Red River College’s Journalists For Human Rights Student Group. It’s our debut event and we hope there’s a huge turn out.

Hopefully we’ll be able to come up with a charity event as innovative and exciting as Cushnie and Brito in the coming months.