It is finished!

There will  be pictures, there will be links to videos, links to the newspaper articles and a very huge list of thank you's to come. But on our last call with Ian before build day, he asked us to think of something we would say to those who missed it the day after. As I stood quietly by the primary playground yesterday just before the dedication, I watched the sun filter thru the trees hitting the not yet played on equipment. Could hear the kids excitedly and impatiently talking in the background, the cars of everyone who came to help... and it hit me what I would say the next day to anyone who asked.

So Ian, and of course all who couldn't make it yesterday...

It was worth it.


thank you everyone.

from this....

to this

Duck Race Results!

First:  Jason LeBourdais with duck 487
Second:  Joy Ross with duck 503
Third: John Boyd with duck 536
 
Random:  John Oosterhuis with duck 278
Random:  Rob Froud with duck 005
Random:  Dixon's Liquor Store Staff with duck 642

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who participated 

October bottle drive

The grand total for the bottle drive was $1158.55!!!

Thank you to everyone who helped on our rainy Saturday adventure

Thank you Lone Wolves

A very huge thank you for all your help and hard work this summer!!!

Thank you Reierson Farms

Thank you for helping build the playground!

Play Structure Dedication

Let Them Be Kids asks all of their projects be dedicated to a Military/Fallen Hero 

or a Community Hero.  For example, one community in the Maritimes 

dedicated their playground to four brothers from the community who 

all fought in WW II and all returned home. The community of Sorrento 

dedicated their playground to a volunteer fire fighter, who passed away in 2007. 

If you have any suggestions of someone from Silver Creek, past or 

present, who may fall into the categories of a Military/Fallen Hero
or Community Hero, please contact Mr. Menzies (jmenzies@sd83.bc.ca) 

and pass on your suggestion.

Pictures!!

Here are a few from earlier this summer, enjoy =)

Another place to buy tickets!

When you are picking up your groceries at Save On Foods, you can also purchase your Duck Race tickets ! They are on sale there starting Saturday Sept 17.  They are $20 and you have a chance at winning $1000  

Weekly update =)

The booth at the Fall Fair went extremely well. A huge thank you to everyone who helped out at it!! Just over $1600 was raised during the weekend.

Duck race tickets are for sale right now, they can be purchased at the Silver Creek Store, Silver Creek Elementary, and Bell Connects in Picadilly Mall. You can also contact Candice if would like a booklet to sell.

The Fall Dance has been postponed till Oct 22.

Volunteers are still needed, so please make sure you have clicked that join button!

Our tool list:

Tools needed:
Concrete-0.42 cubic yards or 16 bags of premix
Shovel- 16
Sono Tube- 4@ 12"x36" 1@ 12"x24"
Bobcat/Tractor w/10"-12" auger
2x4 for cribbing/bracing
String line/Marking paint
Tape Measure- 6
Stick Welder- 200 amp gas powered, cables req'd
7018 Welding rod- 2 boxes
1'.2torpedo) &4' level- 2 each
Impact driver- 4
Cordless drill- 4
Drill bits- 21/64",5/32",1/4", 1/8" - 2 each
Heavy Duty Grinder/Metal cutting chop saw- 1
Wheelbarrow- 16
Generator- 1
Rake- 16
Wrenc/ratchet- 3-4(common sizes)
Torx Bits- common sizes
Sledge Hammer- 1
Stepladder-2 (8'-10' if possible)
Extension cord(25')- 2

This will also be updated on the side of the blog as we get the items needed

Exciting news

Full details aren't know yet, but this just had to be shared (will update as soon as we know more)

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 2011PREM0103-001107 Sept. 2, 2011

Office of the Premier Ministry of Education

Premier commits $8 million for school playgrounds

DELTA – Premier Christy Clark announced today $8 million for 44 new playgrounds and playground upgrades for schools across British Columbia to help provide safe play spaces for kids to be happy and healthy.

“Learning continues outside the classroom and playgrounds are a venue where kids come together and learn from each other through play,” said Premier Clark. “Playgrounds are a reminder to all of us that providing access to safe spaces helps make kids happier, healthier and ready to learn.”

These 44 new school playgrounds and more than one hundred upgraded, replaced or recently installed playgrounds are thanks to $8 million over two years from the province.

Public elementary and middle schools provincewide will be eligible for the playground funding, which will ensure that every public elementary school – and every middle school that wants one – will have a playground for their students. Currently there are about 1,347 public elementary and middle schools in B.C. – 44 of which have been identified as having no playground equipment at all – and these are the schools that will be given first priority.

The Ministry of Education is currently working with school districts and parent advisory councils in the province to identify schools that had playgrounds built this year that will benefit from up to $50,000 in reimbursements. The remaining funds will go towards upgrading or replacing equipment at existing public school playgrounds......

School District 83 (North Okanagan-Shuswap)

·      Silver Creek Elementary

The full article can be read at www dot news dot gov dot bc dot ca

Upcoming Events....

On Sept 17, there will be a Dance and Auction held for the playground fund. Tickets are now available and on sale at the Silver Creek Store and Wearabouts in Salmon Arm. Tickets are $15 each and as there will be alcohol served, it is a 19 and older dance only. If you are wanting to donate items for the dance and auction, please contact Tina @250-832-4346

We are having a Duck Race!!!! And tickets are now going on sale for it as well.$20/duck. The race will be held on October 8 with a grand prize of $1000. We are looking for people willing to sell tickets for this, and if you would like to take a booklet to sell, please contact Candice Mitchell
(BC Gaming Event License # 36297 19 and older, know your limit, play within it {the fine print we have to say})

We also have the chance to raise money by taking yellow pages delivery routes. Amanda is looking for volunteers to help with doing this as it is a great way we can make money for the playground. For more information, and if you would like to help, please contact her.

She will also be looking for volunteers to help at the fall fair. We have the opportunity to set up a pop/water booth for donations there.


There is also another bottle drive in the works for I believe the first of October. Sorry, heard about it and forgot to write it all down, but I will update this when I find out more information, just start saving those bottles!

Updates =)

This summer has been busy, and I apologize for the updates not being done as quickly as should have been, but sometimes life gets in the way. So without further ado a list of what has been happening since the last update!!!

Roots & Blues: An amazing $3497 was made in donations by the people who attended the event. From all accounts, it was a great weekend, the sun was out and the music was amazing. Thank you to everyone who both volunteered and donated


Movie Afternoon: $126 was raised at the movie afternoon which saw the kids enjoying a special viewing of Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2 on the big screen.

Paypal Donations: Last week saw an amazing donation of $500 from Marilyn Flemming. Thank you so much for the donation Marilyn, when we received the news, I think there were a few jumping up and down with excitement.

Salmon Arm Derby: Yesterday Salmon Arm was home to the crash, bang, dust, and cheering that always comes with the derby. It was a wonderful hot day, and we were there to help quench the thirst of the masses. $942.15 was raised selling water at the booth.

All the events have made our total soar up to $16446!!!

Update on receipt day

On July 28 the Receipt Day fundraiser was held outside Save On Foods in Salmon Arm. An amazing $873.75 was made in one day with the generous donations from  the community. Thank you to everyone who donated, and to Michelle and Amanda for spending the day at the store =)

An afternoon at the movies

On Monday August 22 from 2pm-4pm at the Salmar Classic there will be a special showing of  Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules.

For a minimum donation of $10 you will get admission to the movie, a drink and popcorn. 

It's a great way to spend the afternoon, and we hope to see you all there!

What a weekend!!!!

Saturday was one very busy day. As you all know, it was our bottle drive....and did we have bottles! (if I never see the bottle depot again, it may be too soon) It was steady and busy from 8am right down to 4:30 when we anxiously awaited the cheque....which was for $1811.60!!!!!! there was another $94.10 in cash given to us by people who turned in their bottles, a few random donations from people passing the school, and two very wonderful donations.

The ladies at the school were handed a cheque from the Riersons for $1000. Yes, $1000 =) It was so exciting to hear, and we can't thank them enough!

We also received a donation of $180 from the Lone Wolves, the group who have been working so hard to help us reach our goal.

So all totaled, with the very generous donations we made $3185.70 for the playground on Saturday.

A huge thank you to both Corrina and Michelle who worked so very hard on this. Thank you to everyone who came to help sort, who donated bottles or their money after taking them in.  It was an amazing thing to watch perfect strangers come up and give us their bottles when they saw it was for a playground.
(will add more pics as they come in)

Every cloud has a silver lining....

By now, most know that due to unforeseen issues at Sturgis, we didn't make the money we had hoped to for the playground. In fact, we lost money. I've been torn on posting about the loss on this site or not, preferring to keep it mostly positive and showing the good side of all of this. But, we are doing this as a community and to build a future for Silver Creek and it's children. Sometimes, even the best planned out ideas don't work out how you would expect...and sometimes money isn't the most important thing you can receive.

So yes, with the weather, and what I think most will chalk up to as first year planning issues, we did lose close to $2000. However, with the events that have developed since Sturgis, I think most will agree it has been that spark we were looking for to ignite our project.

A group of motorcyclists who talked to some of the parents during Sturgis have felt so passionately about our need, and our goal that they have taken it upon themselves to help in any way they can. Along with a proposed  golf tourny, they are also doing a poker run that weekend with proceeds being donated to our fund. They will be on hand tomorrow to help support our receipt day at Save On , and honestly... I am rather lost for words to express the amazement I have for a group of people who have so unselfishly and wholeheartedly dove in to support our kids and community.

While I do not have all the details for the golf tourny,  I am sure more information can be found out by visiting the LoneWolves website at bclonewolves . com I will also keep it updated here as soon as more information is given.

If you have read the Observer this week, you will also know that we were given a spot in the Roots & Blues Festival.  While we won't be selling beef on a bun this time, we will be accepting donations at our spot, and giving out bottles of water with a thank you note on it for each donation.

Both of these events wouldn't have happened if we had not taken the chance on going to Sturgis. We would not have the exposure we do now, the growing support not only from those in Silver Creek, but now outside the valley, and we would not have all these amazing events being done to help our playground be built.

Bottle drive update and more....

~We now have a drop off bin at Bills Bottle Depot for the bottle drive. So if you are in town, feel free to take your bottles directly there and have them dropped into our bin on the 6th. Same time 8-4:30.

~Also another reminder about the receipt donation at Save On Foods in Salmon Arm on Thursday. And good luck on winning the gift certificates!!

A Big thank you to everyone who's been organizing these events =)

~Check out the Shuswap Observer this week for an article about the playground fundraising

~There is a facebook page for our playground now. (or two) type in Silver Creek Elementary and you should be able to find it

~Stay tuned for upcoming events : movie day,roots& blues, duck race & community dance. More info will be posted once dates are comfirmed

A few updates

First off, a huge thank you to all those who were at the Chicken Run this Sunday and donated to the fund! What's the Chicken Run you ask? It is an annual event held at Spa Hills Farms where car clubs from all over come, show off their cars, and eat great food. This year, the BBQ was used to fund raise for the playground. It was a fantastic success  with some donating more then the plate cost to our playground! All totaled, it raised $872


Second, on July 28 form 10-5 anyone shopping at Save-On Foods in Salmon Arm will have a chance to win free groceries. With a minimum $2 donation and a receipt of over $20 you can enter into the draw. There will be one receipt drawn at 5pm, and if that receipt is between $20-50 they will get a $50 gift card. $50 and over, a $100 gift card

And last but not least, start saving your bottles. There will be a bottle drive happening August 6 for 8-4:30. You can take your bottles and cans to the school parking lot and drop them off. Other drop off locations may be added, so check back here closer to the 6th.

You can donate online!!

To the right, you will see a Donate Online button. When you click on it, you will be taken to a secure PayPal site to finish the transaction. You do not need a PayPal account to donate, you can use any major credit card following the instructions on that page.We can and will mail out tax receipts if you are wanting one. Just make note in the section that says add special instructions to the seller, and make sure we have your name and address

Initial Playground Designs

This is the initial "sneak peek" of the playgrounds from what was chosen in the dot-mocracy. Things CAN change from this, colors, some equipment, but this is the general idea of what they should be

Primary

Intermediate

 

 

Sturgis North July 13-17

It's hard to believe Sturgis is happening this week. And with all Amanda's hard work, it's looking to be an excellent event for our fundraising.Thank you Amanda =)

We will have a booth set up at the fairgrounds and will be serving pancakes for breakfast and beef on a bun for the rest of the day.

Tell your friends, co-workers, heck anyone you see to come out and support a very good cause.

There will be great music, things to see, booths to shop at, and it is family friendly, so bring everyone!!

We would also like to say a huge thank you to Sturgis North Promotions for their donation of $1500 towards our playground fundraising. It has been a tremendous help towards our goal.

Dotmocracy tonight!!!

Tonight we get to pick out our playground. Its a community event, so all are welcome. Bring a desert and come enjoy the evening and help us decide what we'll be seeing in place come October.

The dotmocracy starts at 6:30 with coffee, tea and deserts to snack on. There will also be a few activities for the kids.

Such a huge success ...

Thank you to everyone who came out last night to our announcement.  The support from the community was simply amazing to see.In adding all the names to the master list, I think every family that attended also joined the effort.

There were a few fantastic things that happened that I would like to mention here. Sorrento's playground committee, as well as helping us as they already have, donated $500 to our fund. Spa Hills Farms will be donating their equipment and trucks for all the construction needs. Riverside Meats has very generously offered us all the meat for our build day...which by the way means you will be eating very well so I'd be signing up if I were you. Ed & Vicki Reierson have also offered any equipment they have that can be used as well. Like I said, community support is amazing.

We also had Barb Brouwer out last night. Bard is a reporter for the Salmon Arm Observer and will be writing up a piece on our getting a playground. Thank you for coming out Barb.

A few things that were asked last night:

donations online: we are working on clearing everything with the school board on having paypal set up on this site

fundraising thermometer: will be up over the weekend, there will also be one at the school as well

business donations: businesses who donate will have their company logo placed on the website here

all donations: as we are a non profit group, all your donations are tax deductible and you are able to receive a tax receipt for it.

We got the Award!!!!!!

Its official and we can finally say something.  We are getting a playground.A huge thank you to Sorrento for their help in this. Without them we know this would still be one of those far off dreams instead of happening October 15, 2011.


Of  course now you're likely wondering what to do, how are we getting from no playground, to a place where our community can get together and enjoy life in Silver Creek. Well, the first step is to click that join the effort button. This gives us your information, and we can keep you updated on what is happening and when. Second, save this site and come visit often. We will be keeping this updated with how things are progressing and what events are coming soon. And third... tell your friends, family, people you see when you go for coffee. We are excited about this, and everyone should hear about the great things happening in our community.


There will be more to come on this, but mark July 11 on your calendars. That evening, with desert and coffee, we'll be having our Dot~mocracy. What's that? Well the quick explanation, the kids in our community get to help in the choices of what will be in the playground, and it will be happening that evening. More information, the time and details will be posted later.

These are the pictures of our two playgrounds. The top one, with the slide has been removed leaving nothing but bark mulch to play in. The structure in the last picture is still taped with caution tape and slated to be removed any time.