hey there – well – its been a while since I sent out a blog…apparently – the ‘old ones’ are being read! CTV Toronto and PepsiCanada have taken a boo! SO! I guess I better keep it up! I have just posted a vlog….it keeps everyone up to speed of what has gone on the last few months….busy, busy, busy!
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Everyone!
what a day yesterday! Wes and I will be in the Pepsi Refresh Project commercial! woohoo!!!! Love being able to spread the word – kids helping kids! update October – Thanksgiving 2010
click on the link above to see the update!
Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!
Well – our son Wes is at the beginning stages of accepting sponsors for ‘camping out in a tent for 24 hours’ and YOU have as of this moment given $1703! We just received word that the ThunderBay Newspaper ran his blog in their paper! At dinner hour we were all chatting about the campout and Wes becomes a little emotional..he can’t get over the response! He has had two comments thanking him for caring! “Wow, I’m so glad I am able to connect with you, Bob has been sharing what good work you and your son has been doing for our community of Attawapiskat. With so much gratitude and respect on behalf of our community, thank you for all that your family is doing via by True North Aid:)….!!” Another one writes..”It stirs me up inside and it gives me the desire to practice my voting rights to vote for stronger, healthier & honest leaders who care for their own people and who will advocate more strongly for them, I hope this opens the eyes of chief & council.” Here is a comment from one of his sponsors “Wes, You’re one inspirational young man! What you embarked on here is an incredible and selfless act, and has encouraged me to do more. I can’t wait to hear about your next project! Keep up the good work! A big fan of yours, Paul”
This 11 year old is making a difference! The response has been amazing! People cheering him on with encouraging words and with their actions! You are responding throughout Canada AND the USA! He is SO excited and yet at the same time he is overwhelmed! He just wants to make a difference, he wants children his age to be children! To be in a safe home, have 3 meals a day and some toys to play with!
My 14 year old daughter Shelre overheard us talking the other night in regards 10 students graduating from highschool in Attawapiskat…AND the cost of the graduation is close to $10,000! Due to the fact of the dear prices of everything and anything in the North. Well – Shelre called up her friend Emma – told her of the situation – and the two of them are writing a letter to their school council and asking for a meeting with their school to ask them to get involved with a fundraiser! They have a few ideas mulling around so we will see where they go from here!
This is simply amazing! What just hit me – what the parents are passionate about – your kids are more than likely to catch the ‘bug’. I know I ‘caught’ the bug from my parents – their passion for Africa…when I went on my trip to Africa – I was A MESS! and still am! I guess for the most past it is “monkey see, monkey do”. Now I KNOW not all the children follow in the parents footsteps but alot do! Take for instance the Olympics….3 out of our 5 children are ecstatic about the olympics and will watch the hockey games! (we are a baseball family)…the other 2 kids could care less! As parents – we need to instill into our kids, good values and good morals. We ask ourselves, why this world is out of control? violence, teenage pregnancies, homeless shelters are filled, prisons are filled, public school aged children dealing drugs, children and youth having no respect for adults…’monkey see, monkey do’. Our kids are seeing what their peers and other adults are doing…..following their footsteps. All that to say – let’s stop this cycle in our country – our homes and neighbors (near and far!)
When Bob arrived home from Attawapiskat - we sat for hours pouring over the needs – as this community represents many others in need. We are overwhelmed but if we can help ONE – THAT will make a difference! I have told Bob that I will do what I can to raise awareness and help him fill the need. I’m looking for help! We are looking for a ‘list’ of things… new or gently used for the following items….toys, pots/pans, utensils, cooking utensils, again -…. new towels, new bedding, chairs and tables for the shelter! That is the SHORT list! If you know store owners or someone that has access to these items or if YOU have these items or have access to a ‘donor’…please let me know! We are going back up to Attawapiskat the end of March and want our arms FILLED!
come back again soon for updates!
OLYMPICS! LET’S GO CANADA! Men’s hockey! go get’em boys!
(sorry – had to put that in there!)
Hi!
The following letter is from Wesley (my 11 year old son). 
He has set a $2,400.00 fundraising goal for Attawapiskat, and I’d love to see him double it! Please visit his fundraising page and consider what you can do to help him help Attawapiskat. I think you’ll agree – the kid is amazing. Thanks in advance, Sherri
Here’s his note:
Beginning March 14th, 2010, I’ll be spending 24 hours in a tent to help True North Aid in their efforts to bring an end to homelessness in Attawapiskat, Ontario.
Of the 1,500 residents of this Northern Ontario First Nations Reserve, an estimated 1,000 are homeless. Many of those who are fortunate enough to live in a house, suffer from overcrowding and poor living conditions. Attawapiskat is a community in crisis and we can help.
Help provide homes for the homeless in Attawapiskat by supporting my efforts. It’s easy to do. Make a donation to True North Aid – and I’ll do the rest!
My personal goal is to raise one hundred dollars for every hour spent in the tent. That’s a total of $2400.00!
Your donation of $240.00, $24.00, or even $2.40 will help me reach my goal. Sponsor me by the hour or a set amount – anything you can do will help True North aid eliminate homelessness in Attawapiskat.
I have set up a web page through True North Aid to collect donations and track my progress. Please visit my page by clicking HERE
Thanks in advance for your donation to True North Aid.
Together we can make a difference.
Wesley Prankard
My husband just arrived home last week from Attawapiskat Ontario…a 2 hour flight north of Timmins, just 10 km inland from James Bay. Bob
was taken back by the extreme poverty IN Ontario. My plan was to go with Bob on this first trip…due to flight costs Bob had to rent a car – drive to Timmins and then catch a flight to Attawapiskat. I didn’t want him driving alone 9.5 hours, especially on his way back, I knew he would be tired and thought he would need a travelling buddy! Well – through a series of events, my plans to go fell through.
Bob’s first night in this impoverished community, he called me and said there was no way I would have survived. Not physically but emotionally and mentally. He wasn’t prepared himself for what he saw. I don’t know if I will be able to fully describe what he saw but I’m going to take a good run at it.
The population of Attawapiskat is approximately 1,500. The stats show that there are about 1,000 of those homeless! More than one out of every two people who call Attawapiskat home are ‘homeless’…there are many reasons for the homelessness. There was a sewage backup last fall, destroying many homes in the community. ~ Home fires happen way too often, but if you could see how they heated their homes…it wouldn’t surprise you.
~The construction of the homes have a VERY short lifespan – mould and water damage are seen in almost every home. 
Homes are VERY cold…many homes are built out of pressed board or plywood – no siding and no insulation. The inside wall is also the outside wall. There is a housing shortage in this community!
They only have enough room in a ‘shelter’ for 80 people – it is full. In the shelter there is a shortage of bedding, dishes, utensils, toys, tables and chairs.
So where are the rest of the 920 homeless? Living with other families…we are talking 2 bedroom homes with 12, 15, 18 people living in one home! Some have no heat or plumbing. Some have a leaky washer and no dryer. There are mattresses on the floors where they sleep. Many of them did not have a stove we would have in our homes but used coleman stoves on a makeshift counter or cooked on their woodstove. 
Furniture was obsolete in these homes. Food and produce is so dear, nourishment in this community is non-existent. Bob went to the Northern Store and told his “tourguide” Rosie – “oh boy – it’s a good thing Sherri isn’t here. She freaks out when bananas are over 70 cents a pound”….bananas in Attawapiskat are $6.29/pound! 4 litres of milk..$16. A package of diapers for infants..$60. A turkey that I would purchase for my family..7-9kg…in Attawapiskat was over $90! A week’s worth of wood to heat their home is approximately $180 – and that is using it sparingly!
I could go on and on…maybe another day I will give you more details….
NOW – where can I/we help?
For starters, Bob is in contact with a builder – things are looking good…time is marching quickly, we need to act fast! There is a winter road from Moosinee to Attawapiskat BUT, that road is only available for about another 5 weeks. After that – we will have to fly in our humanitarian aid or barge it in.
Bob’s focus is trying to make a dent in the houses shortage. This project is going to take hundreds of thousands of dollars….
SO – along side Bob – I’m on a hunt! Our next trip – True North Aid needs to go up there with their arms FULL!
I’m looking to outfit the ‘homeless shelter’ with bedding, dishes, pots and pans, tables & chairs, utensils, mugs/glasses, etc,.
THEN I want to take diapers, toys and food baskets for the families.
I am looking for those items and/or people that can come along side me and help. Do you know someone who can help us with the items above. I am looking for used or new…at this point – we just need it useable!
Bob will be in touch this week with ‘Rosie’ – his contact in Attawapiskat, and get a list of families so we have a better idea of what we need. But I don’t want to ‘wait’ – we know the needs – let’s do it! This is CANADA!
Please leave a comment below, or email me directly paradigm@primus.ca
Well – I’ve decided to start blogging…I am not sure where this will lead…. but here it goes!
For years my heart has gone out to the under-privileged children/adults. I’m now at an age where I cry on a whim! I cry when people win and I cry when they lose. I cry during commercials and don’t get me started with movies! You will understand my predicament of ‘crying on a whim’ in a few moments. For many years my dad has travelled to third world countries to give them hope. Whatever ‘hope’ means to them. Just last year my dad dedicated a children’s hospital in Lira Uganda that he built. It took many years of planning and raising the funds, but he did it!
I personally have been to Kampala Uganda – giving hope to orphans. Well – I left my heart in Africa and will return again, sooner than later, to give hope. AND yes – I cried from the moment my feet hit the Ugandan soil until today! 
Well – that seed is imbedded in my being. My husband Bob recently has taken on a position that can be very challenging mentally, physically and emotionally. He is the director of development for True North Aid. A non-profit humanitarian organization – giving hope to our northern world – around the Arctic Circle. Yes – where it is VERY cold! SO – hopefully I am able to balance my dad’s heart of Africa and my hubby’s heart in the Arctic and make sure I take trips with both of them!
Bob just got back last week – emotionally, physically and mentally drained. It was very hard to see my husband sit in his office chair – with his head in his hands saying…I don’t know where to start, they need EVERYTHING!! Then we were reminded of a story Bob had just posted – not long ago – of two little girls standing on a beach that is covered with starfish that have been washed up on to the shore. The two little girls picking up one starfish at a time- throwing them back into the ocean. The mother questioned the two little ones as to what they are doing. We are saving the starfish – they need to be in the water to survive. But you are throwing them back one at a time…it will take you a very long time to put all these back into the ocean and what difference will it make. The little girl picked up a starfish, threw it into the water, looked at her mother and replied..it made a difference for that one.” And yes – I cried. We CAN make a difference. I want to adopt EVERY child…but I can’t – but I can certainly give them hope, a future and a life worth living. Please return often to my blogs…see what is going on, what kind of a difference the two of us can make.
