For many of Stella’s Circle participants, the holidays can be a difficult time.
For others, the holidays are the perfect time to reach out and help others.
Giving Tuesday, the day that follows Cyber Monday and Black Friday, is the perfect time to do so, as it allows people to help in an easy and effective way.
This can be done for the third consecutive year through the Light Up Hope initiative, which will kick off with ceremonial lighting at Just Us Women’s Centre located next to the Hungry Heart Café in St. John’s on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m.
“When people see the signs it is a wonderful reminder to let them know that hope truly does live here,” Marlayne Hardy, marketing manager at Stella’s Circle, said Monday.
“The decorations and lights serve as a reminder to those driving and walking by Rawlins Cross of the message of hope, giving and the spirit of the season,” she said.
The event runs from 6-7 p.m. on Nov. 28. In addition to the light-up ceremony, cookies, hot drinks and carolling will be featured.
Other sites that had HOPE signs last year included Emmanuel House on Cochrane Street, the Naomi Centre on Patrick Street, the Employment Services Centre & Community Support Program on Cabot Street and the Brian Martin Housing Resource Centre on Prescott Street.
Several corporate groups are helping to make this event a success, including Bluedrop Performance Learning that will match all donations up to $2,500 in support of Light Up Hope. They are urging the public to make a donation to the program. In addition, Perfect Day Canada has donated the graphic design work for the project.
“It is a wonderful time to remind people it’s good to give,” Hardy said.
“A small donation can make a huge impact on other people’s lives. It is a good feeling to help others, especially at this time of year.”
She said no matter whether a person donates or not, the public is encouraged to come by and see what Stella’s Circle does for people in the community and how their lives are changed through the programs offered to them, and it could encourage those who take the time to come out to make a donation and help make those changes clients at Stella’s Circle require.
The mission of Stella’s Circle is to transform lives by offering real homes, real help and real work, with more than 1,000 participants getting assistance annually through the organization’s vision of a home, a job, a community.
Donating is easy, and can be done in the following ways:
• Text LIGHTUPHOPE to 20222 to donate $10 or $25.
• Visit StellasCircle.ca — there’s a Giving Tuesday button at the top right corner of the page.
• Email [email protected] or call 709-738-7730.
