Natalie: So I just got to the place where we’re meeting, next to the Laughing Statues. Super iconic for Vancouver. Obviously I had to wear a rain jacket today because we’re in “Raincouver”—it rains all the time here.
Natalie: We are in the Pacific Northwest so pretty susceptible to that. Got my boots on and my INC Giving shirt, yup!
Natalie: I’m ready, I’m just waiting for the rest of the team to get here, so we can get started, but today’s gonna be a good day. I have a feeling.
Natalie: You ready to clean up?
INC Giving Volunteer: Ready to go!
INC Giving Volunteer: All ready!
INC Giving Volunteer: Let’s do it!
Natalie: I am currently on my way to English Bay Beach area close to downtown Vancouver, where the INC Media satellite office from Vancouver is going to be meeting up to help do a Coastal Cleanup. To help keep the area nice and clean and safe to use for any visitors or tourists especially in that area because it’s quite popular and to make a difference in our community.
Natalie: I’m not alone anymore! Hello! So this is, this is my boss mom.
Myrtle: Hello!
Natalie: Sister Myrtle.
Myrtle: INC Giving!
Natalie: What are we doing today?
Myrtle: We’re doing a Coastal Cleanup cleaning up our beautiful beaches here in beautiful British Columbia. Trying to keep our beaches clean.
Natalie: There it is.
Myrtle: Right?
Natalie: Styrofoam or foamed polystyrene never fully biodegrades, and can be a serious threat to ocean life as it crumbles into thousands of puffed fragments in the marine environment. Now we know.
Natalie: A lot of the stuff does fall apart really easily, and it’s actually quite difficult to clean up. We’re having a hard time trying to pick up all the little pieces here and there. But, hey, that’s what we’re here for. And hopefully we can clear out most of it by the end of today.
Natalie: So for the most part, what have we found, like, cans, cigarette butts on the ground, styrofoam–a lot of styrofoam actually, which is what I’ve been picking up around here.
Natalie: But there’s like little bits and pieces all scattered around. But it’s like careless little things, like leftover cups from picnics or potlucks that get left behind and start to degrade and become bits and pieces which are really hard to clean up.
Natalie: What do you think is a benefit to doing community service like this?
JR: Oh I think it, like, gets you connected with your community. I think, like, a lot of people need to touch grass a little bit more.
Natalie: Oh, yeah!
JR: It shows like INC Giving and what our project is all about. It’s doing good deeds for the community and everybody around so I think it’s really important, it’s a lot of fun too.
Natalie: So, how was your day?
Homer: It was successful!
Natalie: Yeah?
Homer: We were able to pick up some garbage and clean up a bit. Every little bit does, does count.
Natalie: Yes it does. Absolutely.
Natalie: Vancouver is a beautiful city with access to the beach, but only a few blocks away you’ll find many people who, unfortunately, live on the streets. So we also wanted to show up for them today.
Natalie: Okay what are we doing now?
Camille: We’re giving out these care packages.
Natalie: What’s inside?
Camille: So there’s gloves, toque, and a granola bar and some INC Giving cards in here. It’s cold today and it’ll really help.
Natalie: Especially now that it’s raining too and it’s a little bit chilly.
Natalie: After we handed this man a care package, he asked us to buy him milk. So, Myrtle and I went into the store to get him a carton of 2% (milk), and when we handed it to him he was so happy.
Natalie: You never know what opportunities will arise to really help make someone’s day.
Natalie: And here’s our friend Gemma from California. She approached our table during our quick coffee break and asked for some restaurant recommendations, and after chatting for a while we gave her one of the care packages to welcome her to Vancouver.
Natalie: She was so happy she put on the toque or, if maybe you call it something else where you’re from, maybe a beanie. She put it on right away. We love chance encounters and fun convos like this!
Natalie: Alright guys, how does it feel to have handed out some care packages?
Myrtle: Happy to help. Hopefully keeping some people warm and giving them some smiles. We even bought some milk.
Natalie: I will say though I think for me it was listening to their stories that really hit home.
JR: They’re actually so much more relatable to us and our lives than you actually think.
Myrtle: It’s like the stigma is real right? They’re like me and you that fell on hard times, and who knows, anybody can end up here, right?
Natalie: Everybody needs help.
Natalie: So we just finished our Coastal Cleanup and handing out care packages around the city to those who are homeless and those who just need the extra help.
Natalie: We get so used to living in a time where everyone’s focused on themselves. So it becomes really easy to forget that everyone else around you also has something that they’re dealing with.
Natalie: Whether or not we had handed out care packages today, I still think that even just spending a few minutes talking to someone who is isolated because of being homeless really changes your perspective about a lot of things.
Natalie: Especially because you start to realize there’s more to this person than meets the eye. And because of that, showing a little bit of compassion really does go a long way.
Natalie: I’m thankful for this opportunity to be able to spread some kindness and to be able to do some good for those that need it.
