You are helping to make our community, the city of Red Deer, a better place by providing your services to our community’s most vulnerable. Occupy Red Deer not only formed in solidarity with the other Occupy cities from across the globe, it formed to create genuine social and structural change to our society. We believe it is important to help the non-profit organizations in our community because they truly put the money where their mouth is and do not try to make a profit off the people who often fall through the cracks of our existing social structure.

Understanding that communities are made up of individuals such as yourself, your employees, students, the elderly, lawyers, doctors, police officers, nurses, retail clerks, and many other individuals, it is apparent that it takes the work of a group of people in order to create a healthy community. It is also known that a healthy individual is better off to help build a healthy community. That is why Occupy Red Deer finds it important to thank the tireless work that non-profit organizations, such as yours, do to help the citizens and visitors of Red Deer and Area.

This past May Occupy Red Deer planted a community garden with a variety of different produce that was local to our Albertan environment. The goal was to raise as much produce and create a vibrant community within Red Deer by displaying our garden in a public place. The produce, when ready, will then be donated to the many social services within Red Deer and area to help foster a healthy community as well as show our appreciation for the work you and your organization does.

Our first harvest was done this past week and we chose to donate it to Loaves and Fishes. Loaves and fishes is a registered, non-profit charitable organization that provides sufficient nourishing food, safety from oppression and discrimination, counselling, shelter, justice, and education. Occupy Red Deer is also in solidarity with their mandate: “It is the responsibility of all to help the less fortunate.” Our hopes are that this produce will be a healthy add-on to any meal that they offer.

Again, Occupy Red Deer would like to extend our greatest appreciation for the work the social services provide for our community and hope them all the best in the future. We would love to work with you to create a more loving and caring society where we all look after everyone, especially those who are the most vulnerable.

Derrick Callan

Facilitator

Occupy Red Deer