Our Work

Creative Fundraising

Across Canada, people are working hard to creatively raise money for Samaritan’s Purse Canada’s Turn on the Tap initiative so we can continue to provide life-saving BioSand Water Filters to households in the developing world. For example, in Windermere, BC, a church has raised almost $1,000 for Turn on the Tap by collecting bottles and cans, and a Drumheller, AB, a furniture and appliance store has raised more than $6,000 through various forms of local fundraising. Other communities have held garage sales, donated the proceeds from selling fresh vegetables, or pledged to hold annual bake sales.

Here are more inspiring examples of Canadians bringing safe water to those in need:

WALK-A-THON

Celebrate World Water Day and have fun at the same time: take the Safe Water Challenge, walk four kilometers with your friends and/or family and raise money to help more impoverished families get safe water. Read More.

Christmas Gifts

early December 2007, the Friesen family of Didsbury, AB decided to forego their usual ritual of buying and exchanging gifts, instead deciding to choose a family donation project.

Each family member – from the youngest grandkid all the way to the grandparents – would bring the cash equivalent of what they would have spent on Christmas gifts.

When the family celebrated Christmas together, everyone put their money a box anonymously and got together to watch the Turn on the Tap DVD. After, the family guessed how many $100 BioSand Water Filters they would be able to buy.

“One child guessed one, someone else guessed five, and the highest guess was nine,” writes Jen Friesen. “We tore into the box and began counting the money. All told, we raised $2,380 as a family and we scrounged up another $20 so that we could buy 24 (BioSand Water Filters).”

“It was an amazing example to us all of reaching outside of our world and sharing the love of Christ with those less fortunate,” writes Jen. “As a mom, what joy to watch my small children see this incredible example, and experience the true meaning of Christmas.”

Birthday Parties

Several children and teenagers across Canada have given up presents for their birthday parties and instead asked friends and family to help raise money to purchase water filters. One young Alberta girl decided to use her ninth birthday party to help. Her friends brought donations instead of presents, and raised $250 for filters.

Schools

A Calgary, AB, kindergarten class set a goal to help one family have access to clean water, and sold enough kindergarten year books to purchase a BioSand Water Filter.

In High River, AB, Christian school teacher Stephanie Anderson challenged her Grade 10/11 class to raise as much filter money collectively as she did individually. Whoever “lost” the challenge would have to dress up in a silly way, “generally looking ridiculous,” says Anderson, for the end-of-the-year field trip to the Calgary Zoo. The class goal was to raise $400. Instead, they raised $5,000. During the trip to the zoo, the students each wore a sign reading ‘ask me why I look like this.’ “They felt like celebrities as people applauded their efforts to support Samaritan’s Purse,” recalls Anderson. “I think they were the main attraction at the zoo that day.”

Families and Individuals

Families across Canada have been engaged in advocating for the Turn on the Tap campaign in their community groups, churches, and schools. In Abbotsford, BC, 18 year-old Johnny Moorhouse worked a summer job and decided to use his wages towards purchasing BioSand Water Filters to bless families in need. In Sarnia, ON, 13-year-old Nicholas Burger lobbied friends, family and church members to raise money for water filters. Over the past three years, young Nicholas has raised funds for over a dozen BioSand Water Filters, and continues to support the work of Samaritan’s Purse.

Each year, Samaritan’s Purse Water Interns are a group of young Canadians selected by Samaritan’s Purse Canada and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to live and work in developing countries, building and installing water filters and teaching health and hygiene principles. The 2007/2008 interns were challenged to help with the cost of the BioSand Water Filters. They responded by raising over $13,000. That generosity continues through the interns' families. As the interns work overseas implementing the filters, their families continue to raise funds.

Sports Associations

Sports teams and associations have risen to the challenge of providing clean water to families and engaged in creative fundraising campaigns through tournaments, change drives, and other activities. In Scarborough, ON, a Christian softball league held a one-day event and raised over $1,000 for 10 filters. In Calgary, AB, another Christian ball league raised close to $13,000 throughout the season by collecting spare change and soliciting larger donations.

Snowboarders

In Panorama, BC, a group of skiers and snowboarders called Rider’s Aid collected donations at the door of their kick-off party on Family Day weekend. Panorama Mountain Village contributed the proceeds from each entry fee for Rail Jam towards BioSand Water filters.

Church Initiatives

A small church in Oak Bluff, MB, provided money to Samaritan’s Purse for at least 16 BioSand Water Filters, after challenging members and the local community to get involved with Turn on the Tap. “It was a wonderful opportunity to encourage our community to ‘think outside their box’ and help those in need,” writes church member Val Wolowich. “We take our clean water so for granted and often forget that so many people don’t even dream of having a refreshing glass of clear water.”

Ways You Can Help
Pray Please pray that God will continue to provide direction to Samaritan’s Purse, as we respond to people’s needs, share the love of Christ, and serve the church worldwide.		Give The need is urgent. A child is dying every 20 seconds in the developing world from diarrhoeal diseases caused by polluted water. Donate Here.