Christmas is right around the corner, and as millions of people hit up shopping malls and grocery stores to prepare for the festivities, millions of other people do not.
Surprisingly London has one of Canadas highest poverty rates and as we approach the Christmas season, Londoners want to do what they can to help those in need. Devon Bingham is a fourth year Ivey student who started an organization called Generockcity London. It is a student-run agency that throws events and donates 100% of the proceeds towards a different charity each time. This time they chose Life Spin: a charity that is running a Christmas Sponsorship Program which provides everything someone may need during the Holiday season.
Bingham says “we wanted to create an organization that took something students already like doing–going out–and turn it into something that a charity can profit from.
This past Thursday, Generockcity threw a Canadian themed event at the popular local bar The Ceeps. Tickets were only $5.00 but with hundreds of people in attendance, the funds raised were impeccable. Students lined up in the cold to support the cause and had a good time while doing it.
So far this year over 1000 people have called into Life Spin asking for help. Donna Craton is one of the co-founders of Life Spin and says that seeing students help out makes her smile.
“Life Spin was started by students, I was a Western student and single mom and so was the other co-founder Jacquie when this program was birthed. We saw a policy change involving our tuition payments that were going to keep up from graduating because we wouldn’t be able to afford it. We knew that we needed to do something so people did not have their lives hindered by not being able to afford things.”
Devon, as well as the other members of Generockcity, hope that the legacy they created lives on after they graduate. They have worked hard to ensure that the giving will continue even after they are gone. Life spin will be accepting donations from anyone willing to give for the entire holiday season. They are mainly asking for donations that can be given to women and children but are grateful for anything people have. They are located at 866 Dundas Street and continue to thank the community for their support.
