St. Stephen Protomartyr Ukrainian Catholic Church
Charitable Activity Summary
HELPING OTHERS NETWORK
Objective
The objective is to make surplus household furnishings and clothing available to disadvantaged folks in the Calgary area via a network of faith organizations and other folks, such as social workers that wish to help this segment of society. The internet makes this charity possible, & more efficient than most others.
The Leaders
Sean Quinn has Alex Muschanov sending emails out to the network . His phone number is 403-660-7449, email address is [email protected] .
Des Peplinski also takes the phone calls & small items H (403) 238-0804 Email: [email protected]
The network links a variety of contacts together via email and acts as a no cost “broker” matching up folks in need with those that are disposing of surplus home furnishings and clothing.
Why This System Instead Of Free On Kijiji
The contacts direct the items to disadvantaged folks whereas public websites allow anyone to get the items .
Others Involved
The network links about 900 contacts. They are folks in about 20 different faiths & many non church people. All are on an email exchange
list .These individuals link with others in their social networks .
Items are supplied to newcomers, orphanages, & disadvantaged folks including those living in group homes.
Many immigrant associations and special interest groups are also involved including:
----Ukrainian organizations including parishes
---Saint Vincent de Paul with 600 volunteers,
---Calgary Catholic Immigration Society with 200 volunteers helps new immigrants
---Medical Mercy: overseas medical support in very poor areas
--- immigrant communities in Calgary that help each other such as the Philippinos, Venezuelans and Colombians.
---Addiction recovery organizations such as Dream Centre
When Does It Take Place Or What Time Of The Year Is It Active
This activity is ongoing year round
What Could The HELPING OTHERS Use To Run Better?
A younger person to take phone calls & surplus small items would do better as Des is in his 90th year
How Does It Work?
Des takes phone calls. Alex receives emails from a variety of sources, offering home furnishings, appliances, and clothing that people wish to donate to folks in need.
After receiving this information, emails are sent out to the 900 folks with pictures & specifics of the items being offered, along with the approximate location . The person in need picks it up. Some St Stephens parishioners and other folks offer to deliver, although very little of this has been necessary.
The network also takes calls & emails for items required by folks in need . Helping Others sends out a request email to the 900 folks that help. About 80 % of requests are supplied.
If the donor or person in need does not wish to their phone number to be sent out, their email address is sent out as contact .
Clothing, dishes, linens, and small appliances are often collected at Des Peplinski’s, sorted for people in need, to pick up .
One question is whether those that claim to be in need truly qualify for these goods. The network relies on the 900 contacts they know to vet folks asking for items. No problems have been detected .
Almost all the donated items are of good quality & many such as almost new appliances & furniture are valuable. Some valuable items that cannot be used by folks in need are donated to charity auctions.
The network has so many contacts that even large houses that are completely furnished, have been “cleaned out” within a 24 hour deadline. So far there has not been a need for a warehouse for large items.
Most donors are very grateful for this service because they want their surplus items to go to someone in need at no cost. .
Other Info
Often folks donating or needing items have other problems. The network refers them for help to the many skilled folks at St Stephens who assist folks in difficulty .
This project provides a tremendous amount of benefit to society.
Charitable Activity Summary
HELPING OTHERS NETWORK
Objective
The objective is to make surplus household furnishings and clothing available to disadvantaged folks in the Calgary area via a network of faith organizations and other folks, such as social workers that wish to help this segment of society. The internet makes this charity possible, & more efficient than most others.
The Leaders
Sean Quinn has Alex Muschanov sending emails out to the network . His phone number is 403-660-7449, email address is [email protected] .
Des Peplinski also takes the phone calls & small items H (403) 238-0804 Email: [email protected]
The network links a variety of contacts together via email and acts as a no cost “broker” matching up folks in need with those that are disposing of surplus home furnishings and clothing.
Why This System Instead Of Free On Kijiji
The contacts direct the items to disadvantaged folks whereas public websites allow anyone to get the items .
Others Involved
The network links about 900 contacts. They are folks in about 20 different faiths & many non church people. All are on an email exchange
list .These individuals link with others in their social networks .
Items are supplied to newcomers, orphanages, & disadvantaged folks including those living in group homes.
Many immigrant associations and special interest groups are also involved including:
----Ukrainian organizations including parishes
---Saint Vincent de Paul with 600 volunteers,
---Calgary Catholic Immigration Society with 200 volunteers helps new immigrants
---Medical Mercy: overseas medical support in very poor areas
--- immigrant communities in Calgary that help each other such as the Philippinos, Venezuelans and Colombians.
---Addiction recovery organizations such as Dream Centre
When Does It Take Place Or What Time Of The Year Is It Active
This activity is ongoing year round
What Could The HELPING OTHERS Use To Run Better?
A younger person to take phone calls & surplus small items would do better as Des is in his 90th year
How Does It Work?
Des takes phone calls. Alex receives emails from a variety of sources, offering home furnishings, appliances, and clothing that people wish to donate to folks in need.
After receiving this information, emails are sent out to the 900 folks with pictures & specifics of the items being offered, along with the approximate location . The person in need picks it up. Some St Stephens parishioners and other folks offer to deliver, although very little of this has been necessary.
The network also takes calls & emails for items required by folks in need . Helping Others sends out a request email to the 900 folks that help. About 80 % of requests are supplied.
If the donor or person in need does not wish to their phone number to be sent out, their email address is sent out as contact .
Clothing, dishes, linens, and small appliances are often collected at Des Peplinski’s, sorted for people in need, to pick up .
One question is whether those that claim to be in need truly qualify for these goods. The network relies on the 900 contacts they know to vet folks asking for items. No problems have been detected .
Almost all the donated items are of good quality & many such as almost new appliances & furniture are valuable. Some valuable items that cannot be used by folks in need are donated to charity auctions.
The network has so many contacts that even large houses that are completely furnished, have been “cleaned out” within a 24 hour deadline. So far there has not been a need for a warehouse for large items.
Most donors are very grateful for this service because they want their surplus items to go to someone in need at no cost. .
Other Info
Often folks donating or needing items have other problems. The network refers them for help to the many skilled folks at St Stephens who assist folks in difficulty .
This project provides a tremendous amount of benefit to society.