Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Wide Open Spaces " Memories with a Future"



































These are a few more pictures from the partnership that Kernels of Hope had with Neelin's

" Wide Open Spaces " The shows provided a great chance to get more people involved in being Kernels of Hope Virtual farmers for 2011 and giving a much brighter future to the Congolese of North Kivu !

Student Sized Acre $20.11 for 2011

Here is the Student Sized Acre display that we had set up in the Concert Hall Lobby during the Neelin High School's musical Wide Open Spaces. Since $200 for a full acres cost of production can be daunting for many students I decided to go with a smaller more reachable individual goal of $20.11 for 1/10 of an acre during the musical. We set up the display to show how a little sacrifice here can make a big difference in the Congo. On the left we had some empty Tim Hortons cups and a Movie sized softdrink. If you added up the cost of some coffees and a movie you are into $20 in no time ! So...If you just gave that much up you could invest as a virtual farmer in growing a crop here on the prairies this summer. So maybe with a good yield and good prices that $20.11 will turn into $40 worth of crop. (see the center of the display)
Then we give that crop to the CFGB through World Relief Canada and CIDA matches the $40 by a factor of 4 to 1.... Now you have $200 created from you giving up a few coffees and a movie... That $200 will be sent to a partner in North Kivu , Congo to provide seed and tools ( see the right side of the display) for farmers in the Congo to produce crops for at least 10 families there this year... Amazing but true.
That size of donation can be done anytime this year... Camps, Sunday Schools and individuals of any age can help ! We'll keep the momentum of the show going ! Grow with us in 2011

Ray the gRaYn Guy

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Wide Open Spaces Helps sow Kernels of Hope

We had a great opportunity to partner with the Neelin High School in Brandon last week as they performed an original musical written by their own Melissa Lausman. It was Country at its best ! You can see more about the event at the Neelin High School website. www.brandonsd.mb.ca/neelin
( If you'd like to read the Brandon Sun article above just click on it and it should make it bigger for you ! )There were 4 public performances at the Concert Hall in Brandon. I was able to make a presentation explaining Kernels to the whole crew at the start of the week... then we set up a booth in the lobby of the concert hall for all 4 public shows. We had a lot of interest and good conversations and sold the equivalent of 6 acres for Kernels for 2011 ! It was an easy sell as Carolyn Gwyer the musical director shared some of her passion for helping others with the students and encouraged them to have their families help out Kernels ! It's easy to "sell " a project that is win win win ! Melissa Lausman gave us the quote of the week when she said
" Ray...you could sell Ketchup flavoured popsicles to ladies with white gloves !!! "



Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Wide Open Spaces

This is the Big Week ! The Neelin High School in Brandon put on 4 public shows of their original musical Wide Open Spaces at the Westman Centenial Concert Hall. This year they are promoting Kernels of Hope as their charity of choice... Awareness and funds for virtual farming will be rolling in ! April 14, 15 and twice on the 16 th !