Surprised resident receives help from community members and CJAY 92

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

Lisa Douglas was left flabbergasted and stunned, when the block-party and breakfast her landlord had invited her to turned into a surprise party.
The party had a bonus of providing the struggling mother – who also suffers from cerebral palsy – with thousands of dollars, gift cards, and a call from CJAY 92’s Gerry Forbes.
All Douglas wanted to do was stow away $100 a month for her two-year-old daughter Trinity’s university fund. Yet, once her $1,235 rent, water and electricity bills gets deducted from her roughly $1,400 disability cheques, Douglas is left with little money for groceries and necessities.
Despite her financial woes, Douglas, who is wheelchair-bound, had her heart set on saving at least $20 a month. Her desire moved one of her landlords, Brittany Michalchuk, to tears and she was eager to raise awareness to the situation.
“She doesn’t ever spend money on herself, she doesn’t spoil herself, and I thought something needs to be done,” Michalchuk said. “I couldn’t fathom how much she spends. How much budget she has for a month is what most people spend in three or four days and she makes that stretch. She’s amazing and such a special woman. Always upbeat, energetic and positive, and out of everyone, she totally deserves it.”
After Michalchuk posted a Facebook message regarding Douglas’s struggles, numerous comments prompted her to enter her tenant into the Gerry Forbes Secret Wish foundation, which is funded by the CJAY 92 Kids Fund and provides help to families with children in the Calgary area.
Even though Michalchuk’s hopes remained low – due to the volume of entries and expected long wait-time – she received a response in less than 72 hours. In turn, Michalchuk’s father Ed proposed the idea of a party, and overnight, with the help of family members and friends, the empty unit next door was turned into Party Central.
They contacted all the neighbours to join in the festivities. Michalchuck was also able to secure another $1,000 in cash, a much needed donation of a laptop, 30 breakfasts from Smiley’s Restaurant and Lounge, and gifts and support from Airstream Development Corp, Eye Squared Productions ESP, Consciously Connected, Soap Factory, Lashious, Vista Group, and All Clean Natural.
When Michalchuk handed Douglas her cell phone, Gerry Forbes left Douglas in disbelief when he offered $1,000 in cash and another $1,000 in gift cards.
“I was stunned, overwhelmed, and very thankful,” said Douglas. “I’m going to put most of it away for Trinity’s college fund. I just wholeheartedly want to thank everyone for coming together and helping out with this and helping my daughter. I’m overwhelmed with all the help I received today.”
Douglas’s mother, Donna, however, emphasized that Trinity, for the moment, is taken care of and wants her daughter to use the money to treat herself, a rarity for Douglas who’s been struggling to make ends meet for quite some time.
“Right now she’s got no milk, she’s got no sugar, and I’m always there because I know that she just can’t do anything,” said Mel House, a long-time friend of Douglas and a unit manager. “Brittany said she doesn’t have anything. So she went back in and asked her how much her paycheques were. Brittany came out in tears and said we have to help her. I said I’ve been trying for months. I don’t know what to do. A lot of it is, myself, and her caregiver … we always say, ‘oh I made too much,’ and we take it over there. All we want, really, is food in her fridge.”
While the donations and gifts will tie her over the short-term, her homecare and Ed Michalchuk are in discussions about implementing some modifications to her unit, including an electronic door, and installing a shower in her bathroom to allow her to stay at home and to get ready – access that is not currently available.
However, despite all the help, Brittany Michalchuk hopes the experience will have opened doors for further interactions with neighbours.
“The reason why we really wanted to throw a party for her, was because I called every single tenant and asked, ‘have you had the pleasure of meeting Lisa?’ and not many people did,” said Michalchuk. “With the disability, it’s hard to have human connections. So I really wanted to raise awareness on the block because I have a feeling that people are going to come and check on her, go for a walk with her, ask her if she needs help, if she’s hungry, or just spend time with her.”