Pop can challenge aims to help P.A. children

“We just thought it would be fun to challenge our partners in emergency services to see who could raise the most money,” said Irvine. “It’s all meant to be a fun challenge to our partners in emergency services and so we hope that it works out well.”

The RCMP has raised funds for the Children’s Haven Radio Marathon through events such as bake sales. But Irvine said it’s been around four or five years since they planned a large event like this challenge. When asked why they got involved again, she said it came from the heart.

“I guess in the line of work that we and our emergency partners do, children are sometimes the victims of different things, so to have a place nearby so that they can go to, to rest, to recover, [and] to just have some space…[is] important,” she said. “We never like to see children in situations where there could be potential harm or what not so we just thought the haven would be a good place to … donate money to.”

Prince Albert’s fire chief, Jason Everitt, said when the department was challenged, the members were happy to jump in, since “children are the future.”

“We gratefully accepted, it’s a great cause,” he said, adding they wanted to make sure the public was also involved. “If they’ve got some cans that they’re not using we will definitely throw that in with the ones that we’re collecting and hopefully we can have … a good pocket of cash for the Haven.”

Parkland Ambulance’s director of public affairs, Lyle Karasiuk, said collecting money from recycling is a “simple” but “wonderful” idea.

“Children’s Haven like so many of the … groups and organizations in our city that do wonderful work, has a need to raise that vital money and if we can support them in some way, by raising the pop cans, I think that’s going to be great.” Karasiuk said the money raised will help offset some of the costs Children’s Haven needs for day-to-day operations.

Besides raising money, Karasiuk said Parkland Ambulance is involved with the organization on a regular basis, providing their first aid, CPR and AED training.

While Karasiuk is adamant Parkland Ambulance will collect the most cans, and in turn be owed a breakfast from the losing team, he hasn’t forgotten about the meaning behind the fundraiser.

“We don’t often have fun things to do you know, we’re sort of dealing with the serious nature of all of our businesses, so this is a really fun project and again on behalf of Parkland Ambulance we’re happy to be involved,” he said.

Prince Albert Police Staff Sgt. Dave Schluff has taken the challenge in a completely different direction than Karasiuk, focusing on being “friendly” and working together.

“Instead of a competition, let’s do it as a team effort and see if we can raise a whole big chunk of money,” he said. “At the end of the day, were going to go together as a Prince Albert and area law enforcement team [with the RCMP].”

This will be the first time the police have been involved in the marathon and Schluff said the challenge is what got them “fired up.”

“Sometimes a person needs that little spark. There [are] so many good things that happen in our community and sometimes we’re so busy in our day-to-day work that we overlook a few things,” he said. “I think I speak for the entire community that … we all love our children, [and] want to help them and give them the best direction we can.”

Irvine is encouraging the public to get involved by donating to the RCMP, fire department or Parkland Ambulance by March 22, and all the money raised will be given to the Haven on March 26.

You can drop off your recycling at either of the two ambulance stations, the fire hall, and the RCMP office located 150 15th Street NW.

Schluff stated the police service simply doesn’t have the “room or area” to collect from the public, but they are “canvassing” their members for bottles and cans as well as cash donations.

How Children’s Haven helps in the community

For nearly 25 years, the Children’s Haven has been supporting children in whatever way it can. Currently, at its full capacity of 17, the staff is caring for children aged six weeks to 12 years old.

Douglas said they are only set-up to house youth in the haven, but “often times” this can be beneficial, depending on the issues they face at home.

“A lot of it is health crisis, some can be family violence situations, parental stress, legal issues that families are going through,” she said, these issues can also be coupled with housing issues. “There’s a lot of people who aren’t able to find adequate housing or for whatever reason have to move out of where they are, [and] it’s hard when you’ve got children.”

If a child is facing a health crisis, they are able to stay in the organization as long as they need.

Children’s Haven receives money from the federal and provincial government, but Douglas said it faces several operational costs.

“You just have to imagine a family of 17, what all your costs would be,” she said. Those costs include fuel, groceries and a vehicle for transporting the children.

Douglas said support from the community is vital to cover the costs of power, heat, food, transportation or any repairs.

Another way funds have been raised for Children’s Haven is through the annual radio marathon. It has been taking place for 26 years and last year alone, the community donated about $80,000.

“It’s mind-boggling, we’re so grateful that people are actually thinking of us and raising money for us.”

kbruch@panow.com

On Twitter: @KaylaBruch1

by Kayla Bruch

Pop can challenge aims to help P.A. children

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