icare Blessing Bags

by Rick's Heart Foundation | Apr 1, 2020 | Our Impact

Hi Rick and Anne,

I want to thank-you both for the wonderful work that you all did in putting these Hygiene Kits and clothing together. Your timing could not have been more perfect. Your blessing bags will be added to our iCare Program which provides those in less fortunate situations or dire straits a supportive and helping hand.

I know that these kits will influences some and be a lifeline for others. The fact that someone would give them a gift or hope and support from the heart is a touching gesture. Everyone wants their personnel items to be clean, convenient and effective. Every item in the kit is new, high quality, convenient and in space saving portable sizes. This way it is more likely to appeal to its intended user and remain with them.

I was very impressed with the bags themselves. They are very appealing and well-made in variety of styles. This was not an accident [Rick’s Heart Foundation], Anne and the Team want to provide something meaning full and valued by the recipient. They hit the nail on the head and a home run with this one.

At a time when most people are worried about themselves and we hear stories about hoarding, profiteering or just plain bad behavior, it is uplifting and heartwarming to see people acting in a manner that helps others, shows others by being an example of how it is supposed to be done. These are the things that will helps us all through a scary time in our history.

Once again to [Rick’s Heart Foundation], Anne [Soap for Hope] and the Team, thank-you from the bottom of my heart.

Tim HOUCHEN Sergeant 1823

CDSS, Vancouver Police

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
― Mother Teresa

Precious Sleep

by Rick's Heart Foundation | Apr 1, 2020 | Our Impact

Sleep is such a basic necessity and yet many people don’t get to enjoy a solid night’s rest. Hundreds of individuals within BC have a home but no bed, due to money. Without proper sleep, our body and minds suffer. Children who are sleep deprived tend to fall behind in school and are more prone to depression and future addiction. So when the opportunity came along to help ship mattresses to those without, we were thrilled to help.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Your sleep will be sweet.” – Proverbs 3:24

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Soap For Hope Thank you story below.

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What is more satisfying than coming home from a long, hard day and crawling into a cozy bed? In remote communities across BC, access to the comforts of home, such as a warm bed, sometimes presents a challenge. The lucky few that have the financial means are often faced with limited shipping capacity to their remote location.

Soap for Hope values communities coming together to help our vulnerable populations. We saw an opportunity for us to get creative and be a conduit between those that had mattresses and those that needed them.

In late 2019 Recycle Smart reached out to us on behalf of The Westin Grand in Vancouver. They had nearly 100 quality mattresses they wanted to donate instead of them ending up in the landfill. Soap for Hope does not regularly work with mattresses, but we didn’t want to see this opportunity wasted. We reached out to our contacts at the Indigenous Policing branch of the RCMP to see if they had a need for mattresses in the communities they serve. The response was overwhelming, and all mattresses were spoken for in less than 24 hours. The need was there, now what?

One call to Diamond Delivery and Rick’s Heart Foundation and pickups were booked. Their support continued as they stored the mattresses for the weeks that followed as we worked vigorously coordinating, networking and calling in all favours; together we found a way to get these mattresses to people that needed them. Diamond Delivery and Rick’s Heart Foundation embodies connection, community and compassion. Their team worked tirelessly with the parties involved to coordinate delivery to sites across BC where RCMP officers could pick up and take them the rest of the way.

This week Constable Jordan Mullen and Corporal Christopher Voller of the RCMP, shared with us the impact this project had in their community.

“There were 30 mattresses delivered to Indigenous communities in Port Hardy. All mattresses were delivered by Constable Jordan MULLEN and Corporal Christopher VOLLER, which [they] picked up from Nanaimo. Each mattress went to a community member in need. One community member commented to police that she had been sleeping in a chair or on the floor. She, who was visibly emotional, expressed relief and gratitude as she has been having neck and back issues as a result of how/where she was sleeping. I can tell you that although this one person explained to us her poor living conditions, each person we delivered a mattress to was genuinely grateful for the foundation. From our observations of current living arrangements and from people’s expressions, it was clear that the mattresses would increase their quality of life.

We are grateful that we had the opportunity to participate in this. Everyone was welcoming and appreciative.”

Thank you to @thewestingrand @recyclesmart @rcmp @diamonddelivery and @ricksheartfoundationbc for rallying together and making this possible!

#gotsoap

by Rick's Heart Foundation | Mar 25, 2020 | Our Impact

Enjoy this blog post from Soap For Hope.

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

– J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Connection, collaboration and community are essentials to Soap for Hope Canada. We believe in taking care of our neighbors, sharing resources, and championing hope in the face of all that life brings our way. This month the demand for hygiene amenities (especially soap) has been higher than ever, leading us to look ‘outside the box’ for ways to meet the urgent needs of community facilities across the province. We are humbled by what that search has unearthed!

Back in November, RecycleSmart shared with us how Darin Rowse, in partnership with The Crossing and Creekside Community Church, had been saving discarded soap from the Fairmont Waterfront for over a year. They couldn’t stand the idea of so much quality, usable soap being sent to the landfill; there had to be a way for it to be used for good.

Fast-forward to this month where we are sending out supplies by the thousands while our supply has slowed to a trickle. We needed soap and we needed it now.

With a few simple phone calls and emails, once again, our community had our back! Due to the quick and eager work of Darin Rowse, Creekside Community Church, The Crossing, U-Lock Mini Storage Burnaby, Fairmont Waterfront, RecycleSmart, Diamond Delivery and Rick’s Heart Foundation, 5 palled of soap were packed up on Friday and delivered to our warehouse by Monday afternoon.

That is roughly 375 boxes, 7500 pounds of soap!

It is because of community action such as this that we are able to provide essential hygiene products to over 125 community facilities in BC and dozens of remote Indigenous Communities throughout the province.

Thank you, Darin Rowse, Creekside Community Church, The Crossing, U-Lock Mini Storage Burnaby, Fairmont Waterfront and RecycleSmart for spearheading this incredible project and all your hard work in preparing the soap for shipment. This soap will serve the needs of thousands.

We would also like to say a special thank you to Diamond Delivery and Rick’s Heart Foundation for going above and beyond. When we called for help shipping these pallets, they didn’t hesitate to say yes, they made us a priority and rushed it from Burnaby to Soap for Hope on Vancouver Island. This self-less act of service went above and beyond the provision of all our day to day shipping to and from the lower mainland. We could not do what we do without them!