Shannon Christensen91裸聊视频檚 passion for the non-profit world took hold early in life, thanks to her grandmother91裸聊视频檚 influence.
91裸聊视频淪he ran an orphanage in Nigeria for seven years while her husband was stationed overseas,91裸聊视频� Christensen recalled.
91裸聊视频淪he91裸聊视频檇 share stories and slides, and she kept all these really amazing mementos, and I kept thinking, 91裸聊视频業 want to do something like that.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
Christensen91裸聊视频檚 interest in helping others first manifested in her career when she became a trauma therapist for the Elizabeth Frye Society, a position she still holds. But now, she91裸聊视频檚 driven to make a bigger difference91裸聊视频攁nd this drive has led her to create Mamas for Mamas, a community-driven platform where low-income mothers can request donated items, enroll in community support programs, and apply to receive refurbished computers free of charge.
Working at both organizations requires discipline and drive, which Christensen has in spades.
91裸聊视频淚 have two children under the age of five, so I91裸聊视频檓 up first thing in the morning. Around 6:30 a.m. I start answering emails and redirecting donation requests to our donations coordinator. After I get my kids up and ready for school and day care, that91裸聊视频檚 when I check in with the event planning committee.91裸聊视频�
The Mamas for Mamas91裸聊视频� event planning committee consists of 12 women from high-profile Okanagan organizations who plan events like the recent 1980s-themed 5K fun run and the upcoming 007 Casino Royale gaming and entertainment night.
The organization is also working on a fundraiser with the Kelowna Closet Cleanout flea market and a spring pub night at Rose91裸聊视频檚 Pub, but the major headline event of the year will be the annual fundraising gala in November.
91裸聊视频淲e have a different theme every year91裸聊视频攍ast year it was Country Formal. It was a sold-out event at the Laurel Packinghouse. We raised about $10,000 for our programs, and part of that money also went toward children91裸聊视频檚 Christmas gifts for 10 families.91裸聊视频�
But that91裸聊视频檚 not all that Christensen has planned. The non-profit91裸聊视频檚 popular computer distribution program91裸聊视频攚hich provides individuals earning under $30,000 per year with refurbished computers for free91裸聊视频攚ill be up and running again as soon as Mamas for Mamas can find a computer technician to volunteer.
Universal childcare is also a major priority, as Christensen plans to open Canada91裸聊视频檚 first universal childcare centre to offer spaces at the federal New Democratic Party91裸聊视频檚 recommended rate of $15 per day.
Christensen91裸聊视频檚 drive to give back91裸聊视频攂oth in her day job as a trauma therapist and in her capacity as executive director of Mamas for Mamas 91裸聊视频攕tems from a simple but important lesson she learned from her father.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 more important to be kind than it is to be right. My dad always used to say, 91裸聊视频楾he only thing I know for sure is that I don91裸聊视频檛 know anything for sure.91裸聊视频� He was a lawyer, and he91裸聊视频檇 often go to
Cottonwoods to prepare residents91裸聊视频� wills for free. He died in 2009, on the day after my wedding. After I lost him, I talked about change, wanting to see different things. And I thought, 91裸聊视频業 have to be the change I want to see in the world.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
Christensen and her husband knew firsthand the stress and uncertainty of raising a family on a low income, and it91裸聊视频檚 that struggle and the fact that many women don91裸聊视频檛 have a partner to assist with bills is what inspired Christensen to start Mamas for Mamas.
91裸聊视频淲hen we were in our early 20s and on one income, we were broke, but we got by because we knew that we could borrow money from family if we had to. That91裸聊视频檚 why we have to build a community like (Mamas for Mamas). There shouldn91裸聊视频檛 be this much struggle in our own backyards when the resources to solve these problems are sitting right in front of us.91裸聊视频�
Since its inception in 2014, Mamas for Mamas has grown to 22 chapters nationwide, and counts 9,500 members across the Okanagan. It91裸聊视频檚 a phenomenon that Christensen attributes to the contagious nature of generosity. To learn more see mamasformamas.ca.
Crowe MacKay91裸聊视频檚 Women to Watch program is a weekly feature that profiles remarkable women in our community. This feature series is a joint initiative between Crowe MacKay, the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and the 91裸聊视频. To nominate the exceptional woman in your life, email womentowatch@kelownachamber.org.
