The Question Newspaper / Biz Briefs / November 29, 2012
Tessa Sweeney tsweeney@whistlerquestion.com
The Oracle and Be the Change for Kids are working to create a merrier Christmas for the children of one of the poorest colonies on the Baja in Mexico. The Oracle shops are now collecting small, beanie baby sized stuffed animals needing hugs at both their Whistler and Sechelt locations. The stuffed toys don’t have to be new, previously loved and in good condition is wonderful.
This November, seven children from Colonia Leonardo Gastelum participated in a Be the Change beach clean up to help sea life after Hurricane Paul. During the adventure, the kids shared the organization’s mascot, Finnigan the Frog. They loved the small toy, took good care of him, and gently gave him back at the end of the day.
Seeing this, and discovering their lack of toys has inspired The Oracle to collect small stuffed animals to take to Mexico. Many of the families of Colonia Leonardo Gastelum moved from mainland Mexico in hopes of employment opportunities and a better life. However, upon arrival, they soon discovered a lack of jobs and an unsustainable desert environment. With no water, electricity, agriculture, sewers or schools these people endured severe challenges.
Over the past two years, the local government has granted them status and a school. They have water trucks delivering water approximately once per week. Last April, The Oracle, along with the Ray Thomas Group opened the doors to a school kitchen that currently feeds 100 hungry school children every school day. Volunteer moms run the kitchen and the food is generously donated by various grocers and corporations.
The Oracle wholeheartedly supports local community efforts in Whistler and Sechelt, and is actively involved in the countries of import; most notably, the children of Colonia Leonardo Gastelum, supporting and feeding kids at BCS, Mexico and Sanggar Anak Tangguh, educating children in Bali, Indonesia. Finnigan the Frog has become the mascot for the Be the Change Kids cards. You can follow his antics at www.facebook.com/bethechangeforkidswithfinn. Drop of your small stuffies at The Oracle at Whistler — MarketPlace across from the Olympic Plaza. For more information you can call 604-905-0084.