Hailey-Mae's Community Building Craft Club - a project started by Lacombe resident Hailey-Mae Oderkirk - continues to create and distribute crafts aimed at brightening people's lives.
Club members (from Lacombe, Red Deer, and Blackfalds) first joined forces last year to create a quilt which they donated to The Mustard Seed in Red Deer, a Christian non-profit that cares for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty.
Looking back to the club's beginnings, Hailey-Mae, 9, and some of her friends began gathering once a month to do a craft before having an hour of playtime, said Hailey-Mae’s mother, Pam Oderkirk.
At the start, each child created a fabric square featuring an angel, inspired by the Bible story in Genesis about Joseph’s coat of many colours, as well as the Dolly Parton classic hit Coat of Many Colours.
The kids were so excited when they took their finished quilt to The Mustard Seed — along with a $100 donation and some hat and mitt sets — they started talking about what craft they would like to work on next.
"This year, they decided to branch out and try to touch more people's hearts, and help to make the community of Central Alberta as strong as it possibly can be," said Pam. And it wasn't long before they set a new plan in motion.
Pam said the kids were inspired by the Johnny Reid song Today I'm Gonna Try and Change The World.
They are aiming to make a difference by making crafts that suit the cause of various Central Alberta organizations which they donate too, she explained.
First off this year, they gave Valentine cards and gift baskets to residents of Royal Oak Village by Christenson Communities in Lacombe.
Also this past February, they donated home-made cat and dog treats, scarfs, toys and supplies for both cats and dogs to two local animal shelters - the Central Alberta Humane Society Animal Shelter, and the Saving Grace Animal Society.
They also purchased a $100 'brick' in the club's name for the ongoing Saving Grace Animal Society Brick Campaign, said Pam.
In March, they donated Easter cards, designed onsies, bibs and a laundry basket filled with baby supplies and a box of diapers to the Pregnancy Care Center in Red Deer. And then in April, they donated 'word of encouragement pins' along with $50 cash to the Red Deer Dream Centre.
The Broom Tree Foundation in Lacombe was on the receiving end of the kids' generosity in May, when they created a wall mural of a 'positive encouragement cup' of coffee. An example 'cup' would have love, hope, faith and patience, explained Pam. On top of this, they also donated $200 to purchase a leaf on the foundation's fundraiser/sponsor tree, she said.
In June, they donated garden solar powered lighthouses made out of flower pots, along with a $50 cash donation, to Habitat for Humanity.
For Pam, seeing how the kids apply themselves to creating these crafts and offering them as gifts to various organizations is an absolute joy.
"We were new to Lacombe and had come from Red Deer, and Hailey-Mae wanted to do something to bring her Red Deer friends and her Lacombe friends together, and to help people," she explained, reflecting on the group's start.
Over time, they also wanted to different things, because they had different interests.
One day, Pam told them about another inspiring tune - Johnny Reid's Today I'm Going to Try to Change the World.
"I played it for them, and they loved it. I said, that will be our song and our theme this year," she said, adding how wonderful it is to see the kids learn the importance of kindness so early in life.
"It really does start with one person, or a small group of people trying to make a difference.
For Hailey-Mae, it's also a fun way to make a difference with her friends. About 28 kids have helped out so far with the various projects, and she is all about keeping the club going forward and seeing it grow further.
"It's nice to give things to other people who really need them."