Rwanda Project
Dear Fellow Co-operators:
This year, staff of Bleecker Street has asked co-op members who would normally give Christmas gifts to the
office to (instead) make a monetary donation to a very worthy and inspiring cause: The WE-ACTx
Program is a organization committed to helping HIV-positive survivors and sexual violence people gain access to HIV testing, care, treatment, support, education and training in resource-limited
settings at the grassroots level. In particular, our co-op will be fundraising for a women and children's
co-operative that supports survivors which many are, with access to healthcare, food, job-skills, therapy and social
connection.
As staff, we have also committed to NOT buying gifts for one another this year, and donating instead to
WE-ACTx. We respectfully ask that your co-op's staff consider doing the same, and directing your kindness
and generosity toward this important initiative. The average per capita income in Rwanda is $230.00 per
annum - you can imagine how far a small amount goes towards improving the quality of life for these
women and children.
Some of our staff-persons have committed to donating "one day's wages", others to $50.00, $25.00 - no amount
is too small. Co-op members who would buy us a lovely box of holiday chocolates have been asked to give
us their good tidings and put that money towards this fund.
Cheques can be made payable to Bleecker Street Co-op, and all proceeds will, in turn, be forwarded to
WE-ACTx. Receipts will be provided. Please mail donations to:
Bleecker Street Co-operative Homes
85 Bleecker Street,
Box 5000,
Toronto, Ontario
M4X 1X1
For further information, Please contact Ali Parrott at (416) 920-7340, ext. 22 or
aparrott@bleecker-street.com
The Pillowcase Project
Bleecker Street Co-operative was the first co-op in Canada to specifically give priority housing to persons living with HIV. Our community is particularly interested in and affected by public policy related to these issues, and therefore felt a strong connection to the 2006 International World AIDS Conference held in Toronto last year.
When it was revealed that Prime Minister Harper would not attend the conference's opening ceremony in his own host country, organizations working with and for HIV and AIDS health-promotion (as well as the general public) were outraged.
In response, our Co-op Board Director Brian Finch spear-headed the "pillowcase project", a grass-roots, "bed-linen" protest designed to shame the government and make a clear statement that Canadians are NOT aligned with their leaders in their lack of caring.
Together with about 75 co-op and community volunteers, Brian worked in assembly-line fashion to stencil 1000 pillowcases with the phrase, "Sleep in, Steve? HIV Never Sleeps". The plan of attack? 1000 conference delegates would sneak the cases into the opening ceremonies and stand and unfold them as Health Minister Tony Clement spoke. The result was a media frenzy and world-wide coverage for this effective action.
For the full story, please check out the Co-op Housing Federation of Canada's Newsbriefs article (March 2007 issue) entitled "Miracle at Bleecker Street" at: www.chfc.ca
The Ladybug Foundation
Bleecker's youth have raised over $1,000 for The Ladybug Foundation, a charitable organization that helps homeless people in Canada.
Pete's Pet Fund
Did you know that the co-op has fund for member's who experience unexpected, in memory of co-op staff person and member Pete Kingdon.
The fund depends on donations solicited by staff and generosity of member contributions. Priority is given to members with limited income;
the amount given is determined on a case by case review.
Pete's Pet Fund - Guideline & Application
|
Newly Elected