Here is the tale of two grassroots fundraising initiatives, one of which is completely worthy of support and as much promotion as possible, and the other woefully misguided in spite of a sentimental civic spirit.
Home for the Games is an innovative idea that piggybacks on the Olympics Games to help Vancouver's homeless.
First is the Home for the Games project from the Streetohome Foundation, which offers affordable room or suite rentals for the Olympics Games with half of the proceeds going towards charitable organizations devoted to finding accommodations for Metro Vancouver’s most vulnerable citizens. Vancouver Councillor Kerry Jang has drafted up a supportive motion that will be heard this afternoon at the regularly bi-weekly Council meeting.
The efforts to save Stanley Park's historic hollow tree have hit a snag because of funding difficulties.
The second cause is driven by the Hollow Tree Conservation Society, which is currently in the midst of a campaign begun last January to raise enough funds to save Stanley Park’s historic hollow tree, commonly referred to as Vancouver’s first tourist attraction. The problem is that the project has only achieved half of the $60,000 needed for completion (or is that $250,000???), and as a result has been granted a 3-month extension by the Vancouver Park Board.
This certainly seems like a lot of money to spend on a hollow dead tree when those funds could be directed towards causes that involve living human beings in need.
Don’t get me wrong – anyone who knows me or has spoken to my new wife understands how much of a sentimental sap I am and how efforts to preserve memories regularly overtake my life (and my house).
But the complexity involved in this project make the price tag outrageous.
If the project does not come together in time for the just-imposed deadline, I hope that any surplus funds raised will be directed towards something that has a more meaningful impact on the residents of Vancouver – those with and without a home.
With regards to the motion by Jang, I hope that the proposed support turns into something more than ceremonial, as the Home for the Games project is deserving of every effort the City of Vancouver can offer in terms of promotion and generating attention.
The hollow tree is a fantastic symbol of Vancouver’s history, while solving homelessness is an optimistic and at the same time dire challenge critical to Vancouver’s future.
The choice about which is more deserving of funds seems obvious.
