Jumpstart helps give kids a chance to get involved
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
Playing organized sports or being involved in recreational activities should be a natural part of being a kid, but it can also come with a hefty price tag.
The Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is a registered charity that helps disadvantaged families across the country. The Jumpstart program itself is there to help children from those families get involved in organized sports and recreational activities.
“So it’s a national charity but each community has its own chapter. So Strathmore has a chapter, all funds raised in Strathmore are used locally,” said Shelley Orford, chapter chair. Orford and her husband Randy own Strathmore’s Canadian Tire.
“It’s an amazing program, it’s very well run, and it’s helped a lot of kids. It’s something that both Randy and I are 100 per cent behind.”
In the store for the next few weeks there are red balls for sale for $2 each. Twice a year the balls are sold, which is one way funds are raised for the charity.
May 26 marks the official Jumpstart day. Throughout the day at the store there will be events for kids, and their parents, to enjoy. There will be a BBQ, and a balloon pop to win prizes. It will be $1 for both a hot dog and water, and the balloon pop is also $1 per pop. All funds raised will go into Jumpstart to be used locally.
The two main prizes from the balloon pop are a trampoline and a youth bike and there are plenty of smaller prizes.
The Strathmore chapter has chapter members, different organizations that deal with youth in the community, and they are the ones that identify the kids in need and they submit claims on behalf of those kids.
“The more chapter members that we can get, the more kids we can help,” said Orford.
“What we’re finding right now is that we’re able to raise the money, people in Strathmore are very generous, we just need to get an awareness of Jumpstart out there so that the families now know it’s a resource they can go to one of the chapter members if they need help.
“I’m a true believer in that program. To get kids involved in sports I think is one of the best things you can do for a kid.”
Tina’s No Frills will be supplying all of the BBQ supplies on May 26. The BBQ and events will be held from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in front of Canadian Tire.