Me to We: Canadian kids help tsunami victims

Collective efforts
Children in the greater Victoria school district on Vancouver Island, B.C. were asked to bring in toonies for about three days. District-wide, this meant cash contributions that totalled over $85,000.

The great thing is the funds were to be matched by the Canadian government as it fell before the Jan. 11th deadline.

I saw many posters, hand-made by kids during that time.

This one really stayed with me "First came a wave of terror -- next comes a wave of hope." "Give so we can help kids like us."

Our world will continue to be in good hands based on the commitment and leadership I witnessed from children and teens in our region.

Cheryl Thorpe, Victoria, B.C. (Proud mom to two kids, ages 11 and 14)

Emptying Jar #4
My daughter Paige, age 7, has 4 jars for which she uses for her allowance. Jar #1 is for fun money, Jar #2 is for short-term savings (to save up to buy something she really wants such as a Fairytopia Barbie or a fish, fishbowl and fish food), Jar #3 is for long-term savings, i.e. university, and Jar #4 is for charity.

Paige has been using these jars since she was 3 years old at which time she would put a quarter into each jar. As she has gotten older, the amount has increased and the percentages have changed for each jar. She has donated to various charities, in small amounts, over the past few years and when it came time to donate for the victims of the tsunami there were no questions asked, she just went into her room picked up her jar #4, emptied it onto her bed and said, "Here, let's donate it all." So she donated all $48 to World Vision and subsequently, The Government of Canada matched that amount if the money was donated by a certain date. Very simple.

Annie