A major fundraising effort got underway Monday for a local charity called ROC Eastman. ROC stands for Recreation Opportunities for Children. It comes up with funding to enable kids to participate in recreational activities whose parents cannot afford it. Executive Director Moni Loewen says the program has made a huge impact since it started out as a pilot project in 2009.

"The activities for the kids have deep meaning. They feel no longer left out which is a massive piece for a child. But the other piece that we've learned is that the relationship with us and the relationship we're slightly helping to build is a great network of supports around our families in general. Our ROC parents have told us over and over and over again, the relationship with our ROC staff and the new relationships within the community have meant the most to them."

Loewen says they get referrals from various sources such as teachers, health care workers and employers. ROC staff member Chelsey Neufeld explains what they do when a referral comes in.

"We get to know where the family is at and we're not coming in and saying; You have to pick from between swimming and soccer. We ask the kids: What do you want to do? And that's where they get to dream, often for the very first time. That question may never have been asked of them before: What do you want to do for fun? They're leading us into what they want to do and we're coming alongside them and trying to make that happen."

Loewen says the organization has become a fully independent registered charity.

The fundraising initiative that started today is called 50/50 for Kids. Tickets will be sold until the grand prize draw on February 6th. The grand prize could be up to $50,000 depending on the number of tickets that are sold.

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