Hailey-Mae's Community Building Craft Club - a project started by Lacombe resident Hailey-Mae Oderkirk - had a busy year in 2024 with distributing crafts to a range of Central Alberta charities and organizations.
Looking back to the club's beginnings, Hailey-Mae, 9, and some of her friends began gathering once a month back in early 2023 to do a craft before having an hour of playtime, said Hailey-Mae’s mother, Pam Oderkirk.
She recalled how the family was new to Lacombe having moved from Red Deer, and that Hailey-Mae, who attends the Lacombe Christian School, wanted to do something to bring her Red Deer and Lacombe friends together, and to help people.
"I'm very proud of all of the children who give their best efforts to help their communities grow," said Pam, adding about 10 kids get together each month to tackle a given project. Each craft session lasts about three hours - but it's not all work and no play.
"They will do an hour-long craft, and then there is a snack break and an hour of play time."
As to the past year, club members have been very busy spreading their acts of kindness.
First off, they met in early February to chat about that month's project.
They decided on putting together Valentine cards and gift baskets with playing cards, puzzles, chocolates, word search, and pens for residents at Royal Oak Village by Christenson Communities (Senior Living).
February continued to be a jam-packed month with homemade cat and dog treats, scarfs, donated toys and supplies for both cats and dogs being gathered and delivered to the Cental Alberta Humane Society Animal Shelter, and the Saving Grace Animal Society.
The kids also purchased a $100 'brick' in the club's name for Saving Grace Animal Society's Brick Campaign.
In March, the club prepared Easter cards, designed Onezies and bibs, and also filled a laundry basket with baby supplies and a box of diapers for the Pregnancy Care Centre in Red Deer.
For April, they made 'word of encouragement pins' and donated $50 cash to the Dream Centre in Red Deer as well.
In June, The Broom Tree Foundation was on the receiving end of the club's generosity.
The children made a wall mural of a positive encouragement 'cup of coffee', which was a cup of love, hope, faith and patience. They also gave a $200 donation to purchase a leaf on their fundraiser/sponsors' tree.
Also in June, the kids made garden solar powered lighthouses out of flower pots for Habitat for Humanity to sell, or to place at the homes they build, along with a $50 cash donation.
In July, they made tie-died t-shirts and scrunchies for The Gord Bamford Foundation/Lacombe Brothers Big Sisters organization, plus they donated several kinds of games.
In the fall, the kids put mugs in special bags along with a pack of goldfish, hot chocolate, a tub of glow-in-the-dark slime, crayons, colouring books, and sticker story books for Aspire Special Needs Resource in Red Deer. They also made a cash donation of $50
Next up, they painted decorative mini nature cutting boards with proxy coated finish for the Red Deer Native Friendship Society. They also purchased $150 worth of store merchandise. Also in the fall, members made Remembrance Day cards and a cash donation $60 to the Royal Canadian Legion branches of Red Deer and Lacombe.
Heading into the end of the year, members painted winter/Christmas decor mini-cutting boards and made a cash donation of $75 to the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre.
In November, for the food banks in Red Deer and Lacombe, the kids filled a box with food for each food bank location. They also made Christmas aprons, wreaths and table centrepieces.
Lastly for 2024, the club donated 20 Christmas gifts/packages to The Mustard Seed in Red Deer - a Christian non-profit organization that cares for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty.
The bags were designed with the children's art work, and were filled with winter hats, mitts, socks, snacks, bottles of water, tea bags, hot chocolate packages and homemade Christmas cards. They also made an online donation of $100.
Pam said this particular project really had an impact on the kids.
"It's one thing to make the crafts, and to have them delivered to different people in the community, but actually have the experience of going in and doing it themselves - being part of the delivery - really drove it home," she explained.
"There was a big learning curve with that project too, because some of them didn't know about the work the Mustard Seed does."
At the end of each year, Pam designs certificates for the kids as a reminder of that year's achievements as club members.
"I think they are becoming more aware of how not everything is fair in life. But they are also seeing that by doing good deeds, we can give others a little bit of peace and joy, too."
