Making our funds work to help

“What do pygmy goats have to do with cbm?” That was the question Rogers TV daytime hosts Jacqueline Betterton and Jeff Moore had today for Ed Epp, Executive Director of cbm Canada.

As a guest on the York Region television program, Epp brought Sugar and Spice, two local pygmy goats to explain to viewers how the gift of a goat through cbm Canada’s Christmas catalogue can transform lives of families in Africa.

“Through cbm’s catalogue, Canadians can choose gifts that can lift families who have disabilities out of poverty,” said Epp.

Goats can provide a good source of nutrition for children and provide income for parents in the poorest communities of the world.

Having just returned from visiting Zimbabwe and Malawi in Africa a few weeks ago, Epp shared some of his experiences of his recent trip where he met numerous people with disabilities struggling to survive.

One of these people was a 41 year old man, Pedzisai who has cerebral palsy and lives with his 76 year old mother. He was approved for a microfinance loan to buy one male and two female goats. With his profits, Pedzisai plans to buy his own clothes, a pair of shoes and a blanket.

Epp also mentioned that cbm stocking stuffers, for under $10, include gifts of baby chicks, sight saving Vitamin A capsules for children, and mosquito nets for protection for families against malaria.

When daytime co-host Jeff Moore asked what is the most popular gift in cbm’s catalogue, Epp responded, “For only $33, a person living in poverty can have their lives transformed with a simple cataract surgery.”

Cataract surgery can provide the most dramatic, overnight change in a person’s life who is living with blindness in extreme poverty. It has an enormous immediate impact on the economic viability of an entire family.

Inside each kidney there are more than one million tiny units called nephrons. Each nephron is made up of a very small filter called a glomerulus, which is attached to a tubule. Water and waste products are separated from the blood by the filters and flow into the tubules. Much of this water is reabsorbed by the tubules and the wastes are concentrated into urine.
What Kidneys Look Like

The urine is collected from the tubules in a funnel-like renal pelvis and then flows through a tube called the ureter into the bladder. The bladder stores urine until you urinate. Urine passes out of the body through a tube called the urethra. The kidney normally makes one to two litres of urine every day depending on how much you drink.

The normal kidney has the ability to greatly increase its workload. If one kidney is lost, the other kidney can enlarge and do the work of two.

in support of Covenant House

More than 220 participants enjoyed an evening of fab wine, food and hip jazz at our annual wine auction and dinner, June 17 at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Among the city’s premier wine auctions with Stephen Ranger of Ritchies Auctioneers and Appraisers, the event raised more than $200,000.

“The Wine Guy” Tony Aspler hosted the wine and dinner pairing while Toronto jazz artist Robert Scott provided his smooth sounds.

Thanks to everyone who attended as well as all of our sponsors and volunteers for making this event a huge success.