Friday, January 15, 2010

Congratulations Everyone. WE DID IT!. The deadline is here and we have managed to raise enough money to purchase 30,000 pairs of Underwear for the drive. That's approximately 3600 lbs! Thanks loads to everyone who has stepped up with donations and pledges for this years purchase of Underwear. I will be following up with pledges in the next few days and plan to place the order early next week. If you have pledged support but have not had time to make your contribution please do so now. Let me know if you have not received your Tax Deductable receipt and I will ensure it is in process.
We will continue accepting support and direct it toward Gas Money. (last year cost $1,500.00)
Things left to do:
1. Order Ginch
2. Secure Transportation
3. Raise some Gas Money (stay tuned)

Ginch be with you.
Brent

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Hello Halifax!!!

8 days 21hours and 25 minutes left until our deadline and we have entered Halifax. Sooooooo Close. The quote process is complete and the factory is standing by for our order. I would hate to short change our friends on the coast. Any White Knights left out there who can help out?

$ 3000 to the goal of 10 cities!

Brent

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

On to Montreal

Santa was very good to us. Thanks to a number of generous donations over the holidays we have made it to the next City. 16 days to the deadline and 1.5 cities to go. We cant stop now! Too close to the coast.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Merry Ginchmas Toronto!!

Just a quick update everyone. I have not received the official totals in the Fund from the Mustard Seed but I received a few very generous donations today. I am confident this has moved us into Toronto, and quite possibly into Ottawa.

Stay tuned, and Merry Ginchmas!!

Friday, December 11, 2009

We were very strong out of the gates but it appears that we are stuck in Winnipeg. Although a shorter trek this year has some appeal to me, I would hate to see the initiative stop short. If you are planning to make a charitable donation this holiday season please consider this one. If you have been intending to donate but haven’t found the time please do so soon.

I plan to place the order for the product mid January which will allow time for fabrication and delivery in early fall. In order to place the order I will need to have all donations in and accounted for.

Remember every bit helps and everyone gets a tax deductable receipt.

Three ways to contribute:
By Phone:
Contact the Mustard Seed 403 269 1319 tell them you would like to contribute to the GotGinch Underwear fund.

On Line:
https://www.theseed.ca/DonationForm.html be sure to indicate the donation is for the GotGinch Underwear Fund in the comments section

To Brent:
Cash, or Cheques, can be given to me directly and I will submit them for you.

Help if you can,

Thursday, November 12, 2009

On to Winnipeg

WOW. Great start.

So far initial pledges have gathered enough funds to supply: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina and half of Winnipeg’s needs (3000 pairs each). Yes, the West Got Ginch. Let’s not forget about our friends to the East. I have made good on my first tier of matching money, and look forward to the next tier as we approach our goal.

Thanks to everyone who has donated so far.

In other related news: Ramin Eshraghi-Yazdi who filmed the journey last year has applied for the grant money necessary to create the documentary. It will be called “One Problem”. We should see something before I begin delivering our underwear in the Spring.

Thanks All.

Brent

Friday, October 23, 2009

Here we go again!!!

Hello Everyone,

I was just looking at the Mustard Seeds list of urgently needed items on their Website…… Men’s underwear is NOT listed. This one item has been eliminated thanks to us. Congratulations. The situation is similar across the Country in at least 10 shelters.

Thanks again to everyone involved in last year’s run. It was a great success and I have pledged to try again this year. Last year we saw the delivery of 25 000 pairs of underwear (3000 lbs) to individuals from coast to coast. In doing so we managed to raise some awareness and make a small difference in a lot of lives. During the journey I discovered that homelessness was a complex issue that is often viewed as hopeless. In reality I believe it is actually the sum of many smaller problems, each one with a solution. I am certain that a few individuals focused on eliminating single problems can turn a complex situation like homelessness into a solvable problem. Keeping to this simple plan of solving one problem, I will again focus on men’s underwear.

Why underwear?
1. When faced with the difficulties of living on the street basic dignity is often lost
2. There is nothing more basic than clean underwear
3. The per unit cost is low therefore more people can be reached with a given donation.
4. Underwear is typically a high need item (often at the top of shelter wish lists)
5. Many people are reluctant to give Underwear as a donation
6. This small problem is solvable
This year, like last year, I pledge to:
- Annoy and pester my Friends, Family and Professional contacts for donations
- Purchase high quality product at the very best price
- Personally deliver the underwear to as many shelters as possible (10 major cities starting in Vancouver and moving east)
- Ensure that every dollar donated goes to the purchase of clean new underwear
- Keep you all informed of the progress as we move forward

Unlike last year I plan to:
- Provide 3 sizes L, XL, and XXL
- Increase the number of units per city to 3000 (more if donations allow)

To start us off I pledge to personally match the first $5 000.00 in Donations. I will follow with a further $5 000.00 lump donation if we reach a total of $25 000.00.

Remember every dollar counts, and every donor will receive a tax deductable receipt.

I hope you will all join me again this year.

Donations can be made 3 ways:

By Phone:
Contact the Mustard Seed 403 269 1319 tell them you would like to contribute to the GotGinch Underwear fund.

On Line:
https://www.theseed.ca/DonationForm.html be sure to indicate the donation is for the GotGinch Underwear Fund in the comments section

To Brent:
Cash, or Cheques, can be given to me directly and I will submit them for you.

The website is still active though not yet updated: www.gotclothing.ca
I hope to the see the documentary of last year’s journey completed in late winter.

Brent King
V.P. Operations
Tenet Medical Engineering
W 403 571 0750
F 403 571 0752
C 403 561 1558