Caring Together Campaign 

During the past decade, our Crisis Nursery has been under intense pressure as more and more families seek our services. With only 14 beds on offer, we have had to turn away more children than we have been able to help in recent years. When the nursery is full and parents have nowhere else to turn to, children are left in crisis and subject to toxic stress that can be harmful to their brain development.

Now, Children’s Cottage Society is working on an exciting new project to address the issue: A 35,000 square foot Child & Family Centre to be built in Montgomery in northwest Calgary.

The Caring Together Campaign, announced in June, is a $31 million fundraising campaign for the project. The building will include 20 additional Crisis Nursery beds, counselling spaces, a smudging room, play areas and a Family Resource Network where families can access a variety of services from multiple agencies.

Thanks to the generosity of the community, we have raised $11.7 million so far. We hope that you will join us in raising the next $13.8 million needed to break ground in spring 2022. Learn more about our progress and how you can get involved at our website.

Jennifer’s story

When Jennifer* packed up her two school-aged children and drove across the country to escape an abusive relationship, she arrived in Calgary dreaming of a better life. Once she and her family were settled in a shelter, she was paired with a Children’s Cottage Rapid ReHousing Case Manager to help her with her goal of finding a permanent home for her family.

Despite the trauma that she was working to overcome, Jennifer launched herself toward her goals with determination and grit, finding herself a job and an apartment that would allow her to keep her family together. Her case manager helped her with the paperwork to secure an apartment, including a damage deposit – which made all the difference in changing Jennifer’s situation. She had left almost all the family’s belongings behind when she fled her previous home, and our program was able to help with referrals to purchase and move furniture to make her new apartment comfortable for her two children.

It is important to connect people to resources and her worker did just that. Jennifer received help connecting with the food bank, with Christmas gifts and with getting computers for her kids so they could keep up with their schoolwork when schools closed down due to COVID-19.

Jennifer has worked hard toward change. She was recently promoted at her new job and has been successful in remaining in her new home. Jennifer and so many other families supported by Children’s Cottage programs have risen from the stress of homelessness to rebuild a new life for themselves and their and children. We are honoured to serve!

*Names and details have been changed or omitted for the family’s protection

Calgary West Family Resource Network

When families walk into the new Calgary West Family Resource Network in Bowness, they can expect help with all kinds of services, from counselling sessions to free yoga classes. The centre is a community connector, offering a wide range of support from several different agencies.

Throughout the past year, the centre has been open on an appointment-only basis due to COVID-19, however, thanks to the hard work of our staff and volunteers, we have been able to reach many isolated children and their parents virtually and on site.

Volunteers have really made a difference. Over the past year, Calgary kids have enjoyed baking, crafting, science and music lessons, all delivered by volunteers via Zoom. Volunteers also dropped off learning packages so that the little ones had all the tools they needed to complete the craft, baking or science experiment. We extend a huge thank you to those who are making connections possible!

Donating Securities

Did you know that you can donate securities, stocks and shares to the Children’s Cottage Society and benefit yourself?

Donating stocks, bonds and mutual funds may be a new way of donating for you, but giving with securities has never been easier. Not only can a securities donation make an even bigger difference to your favourite charity, it can also reduce how much you owe come tax time.

When shares are sold, there are typically taxes on the capital gains, even if you plan to donate the proceeds. When you donate your securities directly to the Children’s Cottage, the capital gains are not subject to tax, and you will benefit from a tax receipt for the full value of your eligible securities. Securities are the single most tax-efficient way to give because they eliminate any capital gains tax. That means more money for a charity you love and a greater tax credit for yourself.

As you plan your year-end giving we wanted to share this method of giving as an option. Please contact us for more information at: fundraising@childrenscottage.ab.ca

Monster March & Market 2021

Did you know that one of our biggest donors in recent years is a group of preschoolers? Wee Wild Ones - a preschool, kindergarten and childcare centre in Bridgeland - does an annual monster-themed 3 km walk to raise money for the Children’s Cottage.

Last year, these tykes made a $50,000 donation to the Children’s Cottage! This year, they hope to beat that record as they contribute to our Caring Together Campaign.

You can support these tiny philanthropists by attending their first-ever “Monster Market” happening on October 30^th at the Bowness Community Association from 12-5 pm.

Finally, if you have a sweet tooth, you can show your support by visiting Holy Cow Gelato in Kensington and buying a pint of their “Cookie Monster” ice cream – proceeds from each pint go toward their fundraising goal! 

Buy Monster Market Tickets

Clays for the Cottage 2021

On a beautiful September morning, dozens of Children’s Cottage supporters joined us at the Silver Willow Sporting Club near Carstairs for our annual fundraiser, Clays for the Cottage.

The outdoor clay-shooting event had been cancelled in 2019 then postponed in the spring due to COVID-19, so participants were thrilled to be back on the range at last, meeting up with old friends. We are so grateful for the cooperation of participants, volunteers and staff in providing proof of vaccines or a negative test, allowing the event to go ahead safely.

While Jim Peplinski of Calgary Flames-fame emceed the event, the NHL was also represented out on the range at the famous “Hockey Skeet” station. Steve Kelly (Edmonton Oilers) hit the clay disks with a slapshot, and participants enjoyed shooting them out of the sky!

The event brought in a crucial $140,000 to the Children’s Cottage Society. And while participants enjoyed the novelty of the fall colours, we plan to return to our usual schedule of hosting the event in spring 2022.

We would like to thank the staff, volunteers and organizing committee who all worked so hard to help out with this year’s event. Finally, we are very grateful for the generosity of our sponsors for helping us make the event a success.

10-Gauge Sponsors:

Children's Cottage Society
Phone: 403.283.4200 | Email: admin@childrenscottage.ab.ca 
Privacy Policy | Website

Copyright © 2021 Children's Cottage Society, All rights reserved.