On November 20th DeRico Symonds was our guest speaker.
DeRico is currently employed with HRM as Manager with the Youth Advocate Program and is a works part-time with Mount Saint Vincent University as Black Student Support Coordinator. He has spent his entire career working in public housing communities, with marginalized groups and advocating for change in areas such as poverty, housing and employment.
He spoke to us about The Give BACK, an annual Christmas holiday initiative to assist families across HRM who may be experiencing difficulty providing a Christmas dinner for their family. The campaign runs from Nov. 20th – Dec. 20th in collaboration with existing community organizations. DeRico and other volunteers identify families in need and purchase the food which is delivered through the community organizations.
Since 2016, The Give BACK raised close to $5,000 from 100 community member donations in the HRM. The money raised helped provide 40 families across HRM with a Christmas meal and a $40 gift card for the grocery store. Each family received a $25 turkey, stuffing, potatoes, carrots, turnips, sweat potatoes, butter, chocolates & candies, cranberry sauce, canned corn & peas and a $40 gift card just in case they forgot anything. The Give BACK also donated approximately 150 pounds of canned goods and $650 to Feed Nova Scotia on the Bedford Highway.
If you wish to make a donation to help this worthy cause please go to The Give BACK go fund me link at: www.gofundme.com/TGB18
To view DeRico’s presentation…. Click Here. More information will be available on DeRico’s website at: www.dericosymonds.ca.
Thank you DeRico for your inspiring talk.