The Anmore Times

Thank you to all of you that sent in accolades for people showing Real Acts of Caring this week.   For those that don’t know, RAC week is a yearly initiative by the School  District to promote Real Acts of Caring.  RAC week is Feb 14-20th.

Here are some wonderful acts of caring that we’ve been sent by our readers or told about while out and about in Anmore:

Food Bank Donations

Congratulations to Kalista Iten and Miranda Andersen for their efforts to raise awareness about poverty in BC.  Kalista and Miranda have been collecting non-perishable food items all week that will be donated to a local food bank.  Their call for donations also came with a reminder that 72,000 British Columbians
used the food bank in march last year and use is predicted to be even higher this year.  Their goal is to collect 200 pounds of food (one pound for every teacher and student in their school).  Food donations are being collected from February 17th to 26^th and can be dropped off outside the front door of Anmore Elementary School.

A Happy Ending in Abbotsford

Isaac Heisler, Anmore Scout, community volunteer, and Anmore resident, really showed an act of caring on a recent trip to the Abbotsford Airport.  While dropping off a family friend, Isaac overheard a Mother and daughter who were really upset about not being able to board their flight with their new puppy.  They had just arrived from Calgary to pick up the dog, and their return flight was scheduled to leave shortly.  The carrier they had brought to transport the puppy was a hard sided kennel and the airline would not let them board with it.  The policy was for a soft sided carrier. Faced with missing their flight or having to leave the puppy behind, they were really in a tough spot.  Isaac asked his Mom if they could help and off they went in search of a petstore… driving through new territory.. hoping to find a pet store, they were able to locate a soft sided kennel and rush it back to the family just in time for them to catch their flight.  Isaac even made sure to choose a kennel fit for a puppy.. a big heart decorated the side.   Thanks for also having a big heart Isaac, that was a nice thing to do!

A Very Happy Birthday

From an Anmore Times Reader:  To all mothers and sons out there. I was touched this evening by a very real act of kindness from a complete stranger that touched my heart in many ways.

In brief, when one of my sons arrived home today with yet another pair of torn pants and ruined shoes, I headed out for a swift visit to a favourite one-stop shop of ‘value’. As I stood at the till, four pairs of pants and another pair of shoes in hand, I grumbled happily to the cashier about the trials of having boys that went though their clothes every two weeks. A gently tap on my arm made me turn around. “It’s my birthday today,” announced the lady beside me, “would you let me buy those for you?” Before I could say a word; she went on to explain that she had a son, a young man of twenty-one, who was currently not interested at all in her company. She had hoped to meet him that evening and take him shopping but he had (again) turned her down and left her, on her birthday, to buy herself a small treat and spend the evening alone.   

 This lovely lady, despite my objections, handed over $50 bill for my son and, when I brought her the small $5 book she had chosen for her birthday gift, she announced, “now I can feel that this is sort of from my own son.” I looked into this lady’s face and thought of the years that she must have invested into a son she so obviously loved. She wanted to buy my son a gift to connect.  And it did, in many ways.

When my own three year old throws his arms around me and announces passionately that he loves me more than the universe I don’t always lock this away as I should. I need to hold those moments like I would fairy dust. For they are magical. And fleeting.

So sons out there, especially those of you who think you are too old to grab your mom and give her a hug, please DO IT NOW. Connect. Because when you do…it is a real act of caring. Help us to pay this kindness forward. 

Jackson and the GreenFamily Say THANK YOU

My 9 year old lab wandered away from our new home last week, but thanks to some wonderful neighbours, we found him!  A big thank you to Nikki on Birch Wynde for trudging around the Mossom Creek area looking for my dog last week.  I know you had just arrived home from work, but you put on your shoes and without being asked, grabbed your wonderful dog Max and helped me look for Jackson.  We are also grateful to Nancy and Murray on Oak Court for keeping Jackson company for most of the day while he visited you, swam in your pond, and no doubt ate you out of house and home!  He must have decided that with the nice weather, he would head back to his favourite old swimming hole.   Thanks again for your help.