CANADIAN COMMUNITY CENTER
The Canadian Community Center’s mission is “to improve the health and vitality of our community.” In service to that mission, the CCC offers programs for citizens of all ages, from preschool-age children to seniors.

For adults, there is a fully-equipped weight room; cardio equipment; an ever-changing array of group fitness classes, Tuesday night basketball, racquetball, a sauna, and weight-loss challenges. For seniors, CCC offers reduced rates and a warm and friendly place to walk and stay active, including Sit-n-Fit classes.

CCC also provides a child-watch program for parents who use the facility and who have young children. For kiddos, CCC offers basketball, soccer, and flag-football programs, as well as swimming lessons. Tuesday Tots is perfect for preschoolers who need to shake the sillies out.

The center also offers a fun and healthy after-school hangout each day for an average of 30-50 children, ages 8 and older. The Halloween carnivals, hayrides, and youth and men’s basketball tournaments are just some of the popular events CCC holds each year.

This holiday season, CCC is raising funds for the after-school program, which provides arts-and-craft supplies, board games, sporting equipment, and healthy fruit snacks for participants, regardless of their ability to play. Over 400 kids take part in the center’s youth sports programs each year.  CCC serves 1,182 members, 543 of whom are under 17. Through this community’s generous support, over 100 scholarships for youth memberships or sports were provided last year.

To Contribute
What can you do to support your Canadian Community Center? Become a member. Get involved. Follow them on Facebook. Volunteer at one of the events. Or you can donate to the general fund, CHS Volunteer Scholarship fund, Youth and Sports Assistance fund, or the After School Fund. Donations can be made anytime at the CCC.

From Nov. 25-Dec. 3, the CCC is taking part in The Panhandle Gives and Giving Tuesday. This is a chance to make your donations mean more, as all donations received during that time are amplified by The Amarillo Area Foundation. These donations can be made only at Happy State Bank, thepanhandlegives.org, or by following links on their Facebook page from Nov. 25-Dec. 3.  

For more information on how to support us or how #ThePanhandleGives works, contact Assistant Director Ike Julian by calling 806.323.5254 or 806.323.3098 (mobile), by emailing ike@canadiancommunitycenter.com, or by mail at PO Box 1106, Canadian, TX 79014.

SNACK PAK 4 KIDS

Every Friday of the school year, Snack Pak provides kids with reliable, nutritious food over the weekend, so they can succeed in school. When kids go hungry over the weekend, they are not prepared to learn on Monday. Hunger isn’t something that only happens in third-world countries. It is happening right here in our backyards.

Snack Pak 4 Kids is on all four CISD campuses. For students at Canadian and Baker Elementary Schools, Snack Pak provides individually-wrapped snacks, cereal, juice, milk, and beef sticks. For middle and high school students, Snack Shak offers a choice of brand-name food items, which can be ordered online.

Weekend hunger-relief programs like Snack Pak 4 Kids ensure hungry kids have access to nutritious, filling food over the weekend. By supporting Snack Pak 4 Kids, Canadian, you can make a difference in the life of a child.

To Contribute
If you would like to donate to SP4K, please send a check to: Snack Pak 4 Kids, 701 Park Place Avenue, Amarillo, Texas, 79101. Be sure to include “Canadian ISD” on the memo line of your check, so that 100 percent of the money donated goes to buy food for students here in Canadian. For more information, visit our website at snackpak4kids.org, or contact Olivia Sims, 806.323.3404, nosims7@yahoo.com; Heather Sawyer, 806.217.0929; or Paula Wagner, 806.217.0124.

MEALS ON WHEELS

For the last 50 years, Canadian’s Meals on Wheels program, for its success, has relied on the many volunteers who deliver meals each weekday, and the contributions that support its outreach to senior citizens, to those recuperating from illnesses or surgery, and to others in need. This is one example of the many blessings this community offers.

One of the benefits for seniors is that it enables them to remain in their own homes—to enjoy a balanced meal that they might otherwise not get. It also offers reassurance that someone will be coming by to check on them each day, and to render aid should they have fallen or suffered some illness. This gives peace of mind not only to those who live alone, but to the families who live too far away to provide that immediate help.

The volunteers who deliver the meals do so because they know what a great need it fills—and because they, in turn, receive a blessing from those they serve. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.

To Contribute
The meals come from the Abraham Home, five days a week. Some of the recipients are subsidized through the generosity of individuals or organizations in our community. To make a gift or memorial to the program, please send your donation to Meals on Wheels, Box 447, Canadian, TX 79014. An acknowledgment will be sent in response, if requested. If you know of someone who may benefit from receiving Meals on Wheels, please call Sandy Waterfield at 806.323.5110 or 323.2552, or contact Cindy Young at 806.217.1650, by email at cindyyoung1382@gmail.com, or by private message on Facebook.

HEMPHILL COUNTY HOSPICE

One of the most important aspects of care at Hemphill County Hospice is to improve the quality of each day for our patients by understanding and serving the needs and personal preferences of each individual, and by allowing them time with their loved ones.

Hemphill County Hospice has been available to help the residents of Hemphill, Lipscomb, Wheeler, Roberts, and Gray counties since 1994. During this time, countless numbers of patients, families, and friends, have been affected by the love and compassion given to those during their greatest hours of need. This would not be possible without the generosity of this community and other donors.

Not only is Hemphill County Hospice deeply invested in supporting our patients and their families, we also feel it is vital to support our entire community. In times of crisis, hospice volunteers have provided counseling to the community; supplied elementary school students with coloring and activity books on grief and loss; offered literature and bereavement services to anyone in the community that has suffered loss; and sponsored the Grief Recovery® eight-week program for those suffering any type of loss. In the past, fundraising has proven to be an effective way to help our patients and their families achieve quality-filled days, as well as to enable our investment back into the community in times of need.

All donations made to Hemphill County Hospice are tax-deductible, and are used to serve our patients and to provide community outreach. 

To Contribute
Please send your tax-deductible contri-butions to Hemphill County Hospice via check, cash, or credit card, to 1020 S. 4th Street, Canadian, TX 79014. For more information, contact Ashley Morales, RN, director of Home Care Services, at 806.323.8603, or by email at amorales@hchdst.org.

CANADIAN LIONS CLUB

The Canadian Lions Club, chartered in 1948, seeks to fulfill the charge given to Lions Club International by Hellen Keller to be “knights for the blind.” The club’s goal is to provide eye exams and glasses for members of community in need, with a special emphasis on helping school-age children. Those efforts also support a push to eradicate preventable blindness and provide guide dogs for the visually impaired, with a new emphasis on fighting diabetes.

The local economic downturn has increased the number of applications we have received for assistance with the cost of glasses and eye care. It has also diminished the number of donations and availability of funding. For privacy reasons, we do not share the names of those we help, but many applicants have listed “unemployed oilfield” as the parent’s occupation.

Funds raised by the local Lions Club are also used to support the Junior Livestock Show, purchase Christmas gifts for local children, help disabled children attend Lions Club camp, and provide scholarships and support other national and international Lions Club efforts. 

To Contribute
Financial contributions may be made to Canadian Lions Club, and mailed to Box 91, Canadian, TX 79014. We also welcome the donation of prescription eyeglasses, which are sent to our Midland recycling center for distribution to those in need. Donation boxes are located at The Canadian Record, Medic Pharmacy, Canadian Eyecare, Happy State Bank, Wellington State Bank and Upland Resources. If any other business owner would like to host a recycling box, they may contact Joe Wagner at 806.323.5848 or 255.0414. The Canadian Lions Club meets at noon each Friday at the Canadian VFD fire station. For more information, please contact Secretary/Treasurer Sherry Timmons at 806.217.0256 (cell), 806.323.8912 (home), or by email at thetimmons@att.net.

CANADIAN EDUCATION FOUNDATION

The Canadian Education Foundation, a 501 c (3), was founded in 2011 by a group of dedicated citizens for the purpose of enhancing and supporting educational opportunities for students and teachers at Canadian ISD. This philanthropic, nonprofit organization is led by a volunteer board of directors comprised of business, community, and educational leaders, as well as alumni.

Since its inception, the CEF has been able to sponsor 27 innovative-teacher grants ($53,396), as well as providing $116,170 in student scholarships, and donating student planners and backpacks for classroom use on field trips. The foundation also funds WOWW (Window on a Wider World)—an arts-enrichment program for K-fifth-graders—and reimburses senior students $150 each for their successful completion of one dual-credit course.

CEF provides financial assistance for AIMS testing, and spearheads the homecoming tailgate parties and Wildcat Honor Teams.  Each year, CEF selects a deserving teacher as recipient of the Pam Spencer Teacher Passion Award, which is given to honor Spencer’s love for education, student excellence, and the Wildcat spirit.

The Canadian Education Foundation is committed to continuing these worthy endeavors and relies on the generous support of our community. The board of directors looks forward to a new year of possibilities. We thank you for your support and dedication to our community and school district. 

To Contribute 
Contributions may be mailed to Canadian Education Foundation, PO Box 438 Canadian, TX 79014 or use the Donate Now link at https://canadianedfoundation.com/. For more infor-mation, contact the foundation by email at canadiantx@canadianedfoundation.com. 

LONE STAR ANGEL PROJECT

Lone Star Angel Project helps children living in Hemphill County with dental, medical, educational, and many other essential needs. Last year, Lone Star Angel: Provided optometric exams and eyeglasses to eight children; Paid for a heart echocardiogram for a child who failed his school physical and needed further testing; Provided dental care to several children; Paid for counseling services.

The Lone Star board of directors carefully considers each request for help and every referral from the community. Every dollar received from the community is spent in a thoughtful and respectful manner. The board’s goal is to be good stewards of the money received. Lone Star Angel Project receives no government funds and is supported solely by donations from the community.

To Contribute
To contribute, please mail your tax-deductible donation to Lone Star Angel Project, PO Box 303, Canadian, TX, 79014. For more information about Lone Star Angel Project, contact any board member: Dawn Abraham, Ana Hernandez, Valerie Verbi-Isaacs, Teresa Johnston, Dana Kauk, Molly Kerrigan, Rosemary Koetting, Mary Jo Leonard, or Becky Reid.

CANADIAN MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE

The Canadian Ministerial Alliance was created because local pastors saw a need to gather together in prayer and fellowship, and to share the common joys and concerns facing their congregations. CMA meets once a month to pray for each other and for each church in Canadian, seeking faithful response to God’s will for the whole community. 

CMA’s goal is to help those in need in Canadian, in keeping with Christ’s call: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me…” CMA provides for the least of those in our community by assisting with up to $250 in utility payments, and by providing vouchers of up to $150 for food or gas. The Alliance also offers hotel rooms for people who need a warm, safe place to stay. 

Because of the generous support of each church congregation and members of the community during the last year, CMA funds fed a man who had not eaten for three days, and helped several others who would otherwise have been forced to choose between buying groceries or paying heating bills. This has been a trying year for many in Canadian, and CMA was still able to assist those who were most vulnerable. 

To Contribute
The Apostle Paul wrote, “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.” As we seek to be Christ’s body together, please consider making a contribution to the Canadian Ministerial Alliance. You may do so by writing a check to any member church, noting CMA on the memo line. 

HIGH PLAINS FOOD BANK

The Hemphill County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service family and community health program provides a monthly food-box distribution and educational nutrition newsletter to families in Hemphill County who may need help with their monthly groceries, due to loss of jobs, illness, or other issues. The food is delivered monthly from Amarillo’s High Plains Food Bank to the Hemphill County Extension Office.

The program also provides food-box recipients with nutrition education classes that focus on money management, healthy food purchases, and meal planning. If any Hemphill County resident is in need of help with food, they may contact the Extension office at 806.323.9114 for details on program registration.

To Contribute
There are several ways to contribute to the Food Bank. Those wishing to help may send checks to High Plains Food Bank, 815 Ross St., Amarillo, TX 79102. They may also drop off food at the Hemphill County AgriLife Extension office or contribute to the food drives organized periodically by school students or by the 4-H Club members. For more information, call 806.323.9114.

RACHEL’S LITTLE HOUSE DAY CARE

Rachel’s Little House Day Care has provided quality childcare for families in the Canadian area since 1971. RLH employs a staff of 13 dedicated caregivers and provides daily care for an average of 65 children, ranging in age from 8 weeks old to after-school age. 

This year, the RLH achieved a coveted four-star rating—the highest criteria offered by the Texas Rising Star Program. In every class, RLH implements the Creative Curriculum, an interactive program designed to help children develop the skills necessary to transition from daycare to public school successfully.

RLH operates solely on tuition and financial donations from the community. Through that support, the staff is able to ensure learning opportunities for children in a developmentally-appropriate environment, and provide safety, shelter, and peace of mind to working parents.

Last year, those contributions enabled RLH to purchase a new Trike Track for the 3- and 4-year-old playground, and to purchase new tricycles. In 2020, RLH would like to update the infant, toddler, and 2-year-old play areas, complete the 3- and 4-year-old learning area, and begin replacing the old child-sized chairs and tables in each classroom.

Please think about investing in the future by supporting Rachel’s Little House. Thank you in advance for making a difference. 

To Contribute
Donations may be made payable to Rachel’s Little House, and can be brought by 1201 S. 4th St., or mailed to PO Box 961, Canadian, TX 79014. Unless specifically designated, all contributions will go toward the 2019-20 operating budget. For more information, please contact RLH Director Cesali Ericson by calling 806.323.6261 or by email to rachelslittlehouse@outlook.com.

CANADIAN FIRE DEPARTMENT

When the sirens go off in the middle of the night, we spend our time trying to calm down our barking dogs. The volunteer firefighters crawl out of their warm beds to deal with whatever emergency is at hand, and to face whatever danger comes their way.

More than 100 calls have been answered by our 26-man volunteer fire department so far this year. When asked where the donations could be used, Scott Brewster said, “When there is enough, it can go to equipment and gear, but usually it is used for water and food for the firefighters.”

Please don’t forget this essential volunteer service when you get our your checkbooks this year.

To Contribute
Send all donations to the Canadian Volunteer Fire Department, 5 Main Street, Canadian, TX 79014.