Latest news with #volunteerism
Globe and Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
John Deere Recognized as Top Community-Minded Company in the U.S. for Fourth Straight Year
Record-breaking community contributions earn national acclaim in The Civic 50 MOLINE, Ill., June 4, 2025 /CNW/ -- John Deere employees have once again set new records in volunteerism over the past year, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to community giving.
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Scotian Shores removes 1.5 million pounds of debris from N.S. beaches
'Scotian Shores started about five years ago. It was me and my family and my boys during the pandemic. The only place we could go was the beach. And that beach kept getting dirty,' recalled Angela Riley, founder of Scotian Shores, a grassroots organization focused on cleaning the ocean. 'So we started cleaning up, and I honestly was going into an eco-depression because I had my second child, and I didn't know what to do. So, I did something, and then we started hosting events and more people come out than I ever thought would,' Riley said. 'And in five years, it's been 1.5 million pounds of debris removal just from Nova Scotia and that's by like 99 per cent volunteerism.' Riley not only collects debris found in the ocean but repurposes it into beautiful creations with the help of other artists. 'We also do a lot of waste diversion. So, half of what people see is the cleanups. They don't realize the background of the diversion, within the cleanups themselves,' she said. 'There's actually a lot of red tape that we have to go through permitting processes. There's a lot of beaches you're not allowed to clean certain times of year. And then the logistics when it comes to hauling away 18,000 pounds of garbage.' As for beach cleanups, she tries to make is as seamless as possible. 'And just making sure it is family-friendly. Basically, event planning and making sure that people can show up, do something good,' she said. 'Currently, we can divert about 80 per cent, but if the trap and rope recycling get shut down in Nova Scotia, bad news. Right now, it's still kind of chugging along a little bit.' She was inspired by other organizations who would sell bracelets to remove a pound of garbage from the ocean, but realized quickly, she would need to do more. 'I was like, 'that's a great idea. I'm going to do that',' she laughed. 'Before realizing that a lobster trap weighs 80 pounds each. That wasn't the best promise for Nova Scotia. So, I started with just bracelets, but then Bev, the one that makes the rope rescues, she showed up at my door and she said, 'you should sell these.' And it kind of happens naturally. I try to just ride the waves.' Angela Riley and Eddy Simmons Scotian Shores booth set up, a display of goods, Angela Riley and Eddy Simmons selling at the Alderney landing market. (CTV Atlantic/ Brianne Foley) With 13 artists involved in the project, Riley will deliver some of the findings, while others can come to her cleanups, or work yard. 'It depends on the artist. But we also have a work yard in Aylesford, where we combine everything and stockpile it for recycling,' she said. 'And artists are able to come cleanup and waste diversion. A lot of the good stuff does get taken away right away.' As an artist herself, Riley creates earrings from discarded debris, ropework and sea glass work. Eddy Simmons started getting involved in Scotian Shores after a cleanup with Riley. 'When I did the shoreline clean-up, and I saw how big the problem was. We had plastics washing ashore by the thousands and thousands of pounds,' Simmons said. 'Rope balls that weighed over 200 pounds. It was dramatic. I couldn't turn away. And with Angela there, obviously, I'm super motivated because she motivates the whole team.' Prior to joining the team, Simmons did his own removal and recycling. 'I used to do ravines and things like that. And I'd been doing some more extreme things, but I had to find things I could recycle,' he said. 'So, automobiles were when I started taking them apart because I knew auto recyclers could recycle. And, then Angela would send me donations from the sales of her bracelets.' Simmons travelled for work and decided on a kayak trip that he wanted to do something about the pollution in the water. 'I had the chance to kayak on the ocean on a day off. And when I was out there doing that, there were ropes full of fish, full of crabs and all kinds of different animals that were trying to get out of it,' he said. 'It took me 45 minutes to get it into the boat, and the people I was with were like, 'you're going to drown'.' For Simmons, this kind of work is the dream, and having the reception by people in the community is the cherry on top. Scotian Shores booth Scotian Shores booth at the Alderney Landing market on May 31, 2025. (CTV Atlantic/Brianne Foley) 'It's doing something that's bigger than myself. And it really contributes to the team and the community that we have built, I'm going to cry,' he said. 'It's pretty amazing.' As for Riley, she says without the community, especially the fishers, she wouldn't be where she is today. 'They come with their ATVs and traps and trailers and trucks, and it's just it's crazy fun time. And it's really good to be working hand in hand with them, because a lot of the fishers that are out there today, they really do care,' she said. 'And cleaning up this old legacy pollution stuff that's been there for 40 years, they don't want it to grow.' With events planned for all of ocean week, Riley is inspired by her roots to continue to grow this project. 'I grew up on the ocean. My grandfather was a fisher, my grandmother was a fisher. My uncles fished,' she explained. 'And it's Nova Scotia, so we're built on the back of fishers here, all their backs are broken because they're hauling traps.' 'So, this is important to me. And like I said, I was a second a sailor, naval reservist, you know, the ocean speaks to me. And I really do believe that water is life.' For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fire tax increases sought in five of seven districts
Lee County's fire departments are facing challenges brought about by increases in operating costs, equipment replacement and a continuing lack of volunteers willing to serve. The fire departments are looking to find money to help fund the needs, sometimes using reserve funds and upping taxes in their respective districts. 'Volunteerism throughout our state continues to decrease. The fire departments in Lee County are taking steps to mitigate these issues with paid staff, assuring there will always be someone to answer the call for service,' John Rzycki, chair of the Lee County Fire Advisory Board, told county commissioners at their Monday meeting. Each department presents its proposed budget to the Fire Advisory Board, which then makes funding recommendations. The Lee County commissioners will consider the requests in their proposed 2025-26 budget. Five departments are asking to raise fire district taxes to address shortages and a lack of manpower. They are Tramway, Cape Fear, Northview, Lemon Springs and Carolina Trace fire departments. Residents living in the Pocket and Deep River districts will not see an increase in the tax rate. Tramway is seeking an increase of $138,972 in their 2025-26 budget, an increase of 19.9%, according to Rzycki. The district's tax base grew by $26.7 million. The advisory board recommends the requested increase while raising the district tax to 10.7 cents, a 2.5-cent increase from the previous year. The Cape Fear department's request has increased by $109,564 or 13.4%, Rzycki said. The budget calls for $43,000 for an increase in personnel costs and $9,000 increase for its capital budget and debt funding. Cape Fear is contracted to provide service to the Clearwater Forest Fire Department. The Cape Fear tax base increased by $78.6 million, while the Clearwater tax base grew by $1.2 million. The combined total of the two districts is $710,862,997. With $40,000 from the fund balance, the proposed tax rate is 14.4 cents, up 1.7 cents from last year. Northview is seeking to increase the district tax from 9 to 9.4 cents, but the department has had decreases in its budget in the prior years. That includes a reduction in the cost of retirement and health insurance for full-time staff and using a part-time staff instead. The district's tax base decreased by $4.9 million. With that reduction and the use of $40,000 from it fund balance, the rate would increase slightly. The Lemon Springs Department is increasing its request by 17.7% to $100,600 to cover a cost-of-living raise and more man-hours. A proposed increase of 2.5 cents would raise the tax rate to 10.7 cents. The Carolina Trace department is seeking a 15.3% increase in its funding request of $125,112. The rise is the result of an increase in salaries, providing 12-hour shifts during the day and night for 24-hour coverage. The department's tax base grew by $25.8 million. With the request and $25,000 in fund balance money, the department is seeking to raise its tax rate from 12.8 cents to 14.1 cents.
Saudi Press
22-05-2025
- Health
- Saudi Press
KSrelief Launches 7 Medical Projects in Damascus with Participation of 86 Volunteers
KSrelief Launches 7 Medical Projects in Damascus with Participation of 86 Volunteers 3 hours ago Voice reader
CNA
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - A Letter to Myself: Raising thousands for charity since he was 11, J'den Teo continues doing good in NS
CNA938 Rewind - A Letter to Myself: Raising thousands for charity since he was 11, J'den Teo continues doing good in NS J'den Teo learned how to paint when he was 11 years old for one reason — so that he could sell his artworks to raise funds for charity. In the last 9 years, he has raised over $100,000 by selling his own works, and organising exhibitions for other young artists to do the same. In 2017, he was conferred the President's Volunteerism and Philanthropy Award. J'den, who is currently in National Service, shares why even now, he uses part of his precious free time during weekends to provide companionship to the vulnerable and lonely. 28 mins CNA938 Rewind - A Letter to Myself: Pastries, purpose, and perseverance — Why Serene Ong started her vending machine business Serene Ong, a mother of three and a former cabin crew member, decided to start her own vending machine company in October 2024. The machines serve fresh artisanal pastries from local bakeries. While business has been brisk for several of her machines, she had to overcome many initial challenges. Serene shares why she took a risk, the reaction of her family, and what she's learned about business — and herself — through this journey. 34 mins CNA938 Rewind - #TalkBack: Keeping your child safe from harm in their enrichment classes Former actor Ian Fang has been sentenced to 40 months' jail, after pleading guilty to sexual offences involving a then 15-year-old minor. At the time of the offences, Fang was an acting teacher with a child modelling school, providing classes for students aged four to 14. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak more with Wong Jing Yong, Co-Founder & Principal Tutor, Genius Plus Academy and Ong Pei Ching, Partner, TSMP Law. 32 mins
