living cover
group, but when we see the community step in, it really
was immediately earmarked for her.
warms our hearts because we can’t do it all.”
“When she got up in the morning and saw, she was a
Jennifer feels that Lethbridgians have a giving nature,
puddle,” YWCA Chief Executive Offi cer, Jennifer Lepko,
and fi nds it not only heartwarming, but hopeful for the
recalls. Her response was, ‘I didn’t even think people
women and children she encounters daily. These campaigns,
listened to me.’ It was something so comforting to her; it
and the season, bring people together to look out for each
meant so much, it made her feel of value as a person. It
other by giving, sharing and caring for each other, affecting
made her realize she does matter, good things can happen.
the place we live.
She had a pretty tough story; just the impact of getting that
“They feel that somebody does care, and there is a
teddy bear made a change in her life.”
future, and there is value in them. Even in the most horrible
The YWCA Stockings of Hope campaign personalizes gift-
crisis situations, there is a little bit of light that can shine
giving to mothers and their children. Staff members speak
through, so it makes a huge impact,” Jennifer explains. “It’s
to the moms about their children’s interests, and needed
household items. It’s important
to encourage the mothers to ask
for a treat and not just necessities
for themselves so they receive
something special, Jennifer notes.
Stockings
are
numbered
and hung by the fi replace for
community members to come
in and select to fi ll. Staff pull
together to fi ll any remaining
stockings, and distribute them on
Christmas Eve. The agency ensures
every stocking is full.
“It’s really enlightening at that
time when you start seeing the
stockings come in, and how our
community does come in and take
care of others that maybe aren’t in
the same fortunate position they
are,” Jennifer explains, “Watching
some of the gifts come in, and
even being a fl y on the wall for
the kids that get to open a gift, or
some of the women that haven’t
been acknowledged in years from
anybody in any shape way or form
and they receive a Christmas gift –
it’s really, really meaningful.”
In 2016, 162 stockings were
fi lled by102 people in Lethbridge.
“It’s pretty fantastic,” Jennifer
says. “Our community is so
amazing; it absolutely means the
world [to theYWCA]. From a staff
perspective, we’re here, we see
the need, we see the struggles
The Christmas Tree Festival draws
that people are going through,
hundreds of attendees a year.
and we do our best as a staffi ng
The Mayor’s Christmas Concert
can be experienced at 7 p.m.,
December 9, 2017 at
Southminster United Church.
Tickets are $15.
Tuba Christmas is a free
public concert at CASA,
and starts at 1 p.m.
on December 16, 2017.
The Christmas Tree Festival
is free to the public
November 19-22, 2017
at the ENMAX Centre.
Stuff the Bus runs
December 5, 2017
at north and west
Save-On-Foods locations.
Other campaigns are ongoing.
Visit lethbridgeliving.com/events
for more information.
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LETHBRIDGELIVING.COM
NOV-DEC 2017