First and foremost, I wish to apologize for this LONG OVERDUE update. This did not mean we were not still working on Mercury Hope, but sometimes progress is literally measured by emails. Secondly, I wish to thank you all for your wonderful support in this mission of Hope. What started out as an effort to make a small difference in the lives of Afghani children and widows, grew to a life changing event resulting in 14+ tonnes of supplies being distributed in Afghanistan. I knew that my fellow Canadians, and my US friends still cared enough to reach out and make a difference. I for one was truly touched, and I know first hand that the Afghani people knew that the items were from caring Canadians. If a smile was a measurement of riches, I have definitely been blessed beyond measure with the smiles I have seen both in Afghanistan and here in Canada.
Upon my return to Canada, the ability to move supplies disappeared, while the supplies continued to role into Jim Fowlers Warehouse (Collins Lake Installation) courtesy of both CANPAR and Canada Post. We searched frantically for an organization to help move the growing supplies, that we knew were still needed overseas, yet unfortunately each road travelled ended in heartbreak for those involved, and the supplies of Hope sat still in a warehouse. We realized that the reality of continuing the mission to Afghanistan alone was dwindling, and the desire to use the supplies where it was needed most, grew greater.
Finally after many efforts, by many people, we recieved news fromCRH (Compassionate Resource Warehouse www.crwarehouse.ca ) in partnership with ICross ( www.icross.ca ) They would be able to move what had grown to another 14+ tonnes, from the warehouse in Kingston to Russia !! In the VERY near future CRH with assistance from Mercury Hope personel, will load up a sea container bound for Russia, where the supplies will be distributed between
Without the help of all of you (too many to list) Mercury Hope would not have happened. It was our original intent to bring A Message of Hope, and we have succeeded beyond all of my expectations. To this end, we must put a stop to Mercury Hope, for the time being, until we are able to make it a charitable organization, furthering our ability to move items to those in need. When we have reached the status of a registered charity, we will be looking to start collecting supplies again.
In closing, and this is by no means a final update for Mercury Hope, I wish to close this update with one of my more favorite quotations. I have never been more moved by one simple line, then by Mr Burkes, and it is something in which I deeply believe.
Although I cannot possibly thank everyone individually that was involved in the success of Mercury Hope, I wish to take this opportunity to thank those that I can.
This is by no means in any order, but just as they come to me.
Dave Dixon and Danville Online Communications - Website support. Jim Fowler and CLI (Collins Lake Installation) - Warehouse storage Heather Atkins and the Tamworth Royal Canadian Legion - Organization, storage and support. Lorraine Beckman - Cobourg organization, storage and support Royal Canadian Legion - Across Canada - Organization, storage and support. CanPar - Shipping Canada Post - Shipping Dept of National Defence and the Canadian Airforce - Shipment from Canada to Afghanistan Ollie Shoes - Shoes, shoes and more shoes. 3rd Bn Royal Canadian Regiment - Sorting in Canada, and distribution in Afghanistan. CFB Petawawa - storage and support. Sgt. S Taylor - CFB Edmonton support organizer, and Western Canada organizer. CBC - media coverage The many Schools from across Canada - supplies and support. Nathalie Storring - my wife, and my personal pillar; and Compassionate Resource Warehouse - shipment, distribution, support ICross - support
Finally the most important supporters of all - The thousands of individual Canadians - The Traci Mohameds, the Catherine Paquets, the Laurence Rivards, Mrs Waltons, Martha Saxes, The Girls of Branksome Hall, The Academy for Gifted Children, Tamworth Public School and literally THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE AND SCHOOLS. All those who donated supplies, those who donated time and helped organize their neighbourhoods, schools and communities to make a difference. You are truly an inspiration to people a lifetime away, who now understand the meaning of caring. You all are the reason Mercury Hope made a difference in the lives of so many people. The kindness of so many people, none of whom knew each other, has changed my own life forever. I too, know there is now hope where I thought there was none.
My heartfelt thanks, and gratitude for daring to make a difference.
Russell D Storring
"The test of our progress is not whether we add to the abundance of those who have much. It is whether we provide enough to those who have little." – FD Roosevelt