Supporting those around us is one of our greatest joys. At Teacher’s Pet, we believe in always giving back to those in need. We are on the lookout for opportunities to give back to the community this year. Have a charity we can support? Get in touch with us at hr@tpet.ca.
Teacher’s Pet is proud to support True North Aid. This is a Canadian charity dedicated to serving and supporting northern Indigenous communities in Canada through practical humanitarian assistance. They’ve established initiatives based on eight foundational stones of support: self-determination, reconciliation, water, food, health, housing, hope and education.
If you would like more information about their projects, please check out their website.
In January, 2019, some of our Edmonton members got together and participated in the Meals That Mend Program. As a team, we prepared brunch for the guests at the Ronald McDonald House Charities Alberta.
Meals That Mend is a program that offers comforting meals to families staying at the RMHCA while their children receive treatment at the hospital. Volunteer groups can get involved by providing a meal for these families so that they can focus and invest their time on what really matters the most — their children’s health journey.
Needless to say, this volunteer experience was very memorable and rewarding as we interacted with the families and were able to put smiles on their faces. Visit https://rmhcalberta.org to see how you can make a difference in your community.
In 2017, an eight-year-old girl by the name of Jilliane Edwardsen had an idea. She wanted to find a way to share her love for art with others, while raising money for people who are in need. Jilliane created Love Heart Looms as a way to bring together friends, create meaningful crafts and give back to various charities within her community.
Donate directly to Jilliane’s Stollery page. Visit: http://events.stollerykids.com/goto/jillianee
You can also visit Jilliane’s Instagram page (love.heart.looms) for more information about her initiative and view listings of the products she has for sale.
Lastly, if you want to place a custom order and/or if you have any inquiries about Love Heart Looms, feel free to email loveheartlooms@gmail.com
— Mahatma Gandhi
During the 2019 annual Greater Edmonton Teachers’ Convention, some of the Teacher’s Pet staff had the opportunity to meet a 13-year-old entrepreneur and philanthropist named Evan Robson. Although Evan is young, his personal jewellery business line has already made a positive impact on the lives of many others in his community.
Let’s take a look at Evan’s success story and what he wants to share with the rest of you!
Who is Evan and what does he do?
Evan is the Creative Director and Owner of a fashionable jewellery line called Shake it Off Design that originated in Edmonton. He is also a Youth Ambassador of Tourette Canada.
Evan handcrafts each bracelet that he sells using unique and rare beads. A portion of each sale is donated to Tourette Canada. His goal is to spread awareness about Tourette Syndrome to the public. The most inspiring thing about Evan’s initiative is his determination to help others even though he personally faces the challenges of Tourette Syndrome on a daily basis.
How does Evan control his tics?
The majority of people who have Tourette Syndrome also have other challenges associated with it that may increase their involuntary movements. In Evan’s case, Evan also suffers from Irlen’s syndrome, anxiety and ADHD. He wears tinted glasses to help his brain process visual information. When Evan is anxious, his tics increase.
Individuals who have Tourette Syndrome, or anxiety — in general, deal with it differently. Evan finds that cuddling or playing with his needy dogs, Bauer and Molly, helps him calm down. Swimming and taking cooking classes are also great activities that ease Evan’s stress. When required, Evan may take medication to help reduce his anxiety.
Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder that is usually characterized by tics. Tics are uncontrollable movements or vocalizations. Some examples of tics include eyes blinking repeatedly, head rolling, shrieks, and/or clearing one’s throat.
Where can people purchase bracelets?
Evan sets up pop-up shops in and around the Edmonton area, as well as, at Farmer’s Markets. He also attends events like conferences, conventions, and various other community events when the opportunities arise.
If there is something specific you are looking for, you can place custom orders through Evan’s social media accounts. Currently, Evan sells an assortment of bracelets made from rare beads for men, women, and even children.
What does Evan plan to do next with his business?
This young entrepreneur plans to continue building his jewelry line and start making necklaces, gemstone rings, and earrings in the near future. Evan also hopes to continue to expand his audience in regards to spreading awareness about Tourette Syndrome by speaking at more seminars and conferences.
For more information and updates about Shake it Off Design, visit Evan’s social media accounts on Facebook & Instagram.
Kim Krupa previously worked in the Teacher’s Pet accounting department and is a friend for life to many of us here at Teacher’s Pet. Kim is the kindest soul you will ever meet. She lights up a room with her smile, has the most infectious laugh and is generous beyond measure. Within minutes of meeting her, you are quick to learn that her son is the light of her life.
On August 20th, 2017, Kim and her husband, Mike, experienced a parent’s worst nightmare. Their son, Tanner who had turned 19 just days earlier, was taken from them. There has been an ongoing investigation into his death and there are still many unanswered questions about what happened.
To honour their son, Kim and Mike created Tanner’s Totes which are cloth bags filled with items collected from the community to donate to those in need. And on August 14th, 2019, what would have been Tanner’s 21st birthday, friends and family gathered to hand out over 800 stuffed totes to the less fortunate. This initiative is ongoing, and items are always needed. Here at Teacher’s Pet, we have set up a donation box for anyone to drop off items for this cause (see list below). If you would like your own totes to fill, please contact us at: hr@tpet.ca.
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