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Day 33: Steve’s Halloween Give

Steve’s Halloween GIVE

Happy Halloween! Day 33 / Give 33

This GIVE is not about what I did but what one of my local neighbours has been doing for 20 years. Steve and his wife Deborah decorate their house for Halloween like you have never seen before. We estimated there must be over a 100 carved pumpkins all lit up with additional “spooky” decorations making it a full Halloween experience. I spoke with Deborah first to get the inside scoop on their mission. She told me it was Steve’s mission and also let me know our estimate was wrong and he had carved 437 pumpkins. Wow what a commitment.

Steve’s artistic master piece is well know all over the North Shore of Vancouver and droves of people come by their house over the course of a two day period to enjoy the unique decorations of the house.

What started as a way to GIVE back to his community and to the children in the area became an annual fundraiser for Easter Seals and Canuck Place. $60,000 later and 20 years of decorating this will be their final year producing the grand show in their yard.

It was our son’s first Halloween to experience “trick or treating” and what better place to show him the spirit of Halloween – which is GIVING. (Free candy for anyone that is willing to come to the door to ask for it.)

It also gave our family an opportunity to donate to such a worthy cause and for my my son do the giving this time. They had a donation box set up at the entrance of their yard, manned by volunteers, to encourage these donations. An addition of hot chocolate and of course some special Halloween Treats were provided for everyone to enjoy.

I took the opportunity to talk to Steve and listen to his story of giving. (Steve I am sorry the video was deleted by error by a certain 3 year old!)

Steve started this project to give back to his community, and eventually it turned into something much more. He is a paramedic and the entire paramedic crew lends a hand. They keep the streets safe will all the additional traffic, man the door and they take the time to bring children from the BC Children’s Hospital to the house to experience Halloween first hand. These are children that will not get the opportunity to go door to door trick or treating this year. Steve noted that watching the expressions on the faces of the children coming through their house makes all the time and effort worthwhile. As Steve said to me “it just feels so good to give something back.”

As much as it feels good to be the receiver being the GIVER is the best feeling in the world.

Steve and Deborah – thank you for your generous GIVE. It will be a Halloween my son and our whole family will never forget. It is people like you that inspire me to keep the message of giving alive. You have touched the lives of so many people both young and old. The time effort and commitment you have show to our community will be the inspiration we all need to GIVE back every day of the year.

Time Commitment: 0 (it was right on our Trick or Treating path)

Cost: $10 donation

What people are saying about 365give

“I wanted to express my gratitude for the teaching you provided today. Your message was delivered eloquently, compassionately, and without judgment. The kids were engaged, and now have knowledge with which they can change the world. We all appreciated how you took the time to help us learn to build positive mindsets and practice happiness.”
Shelley Gardner, Grade 6 Ridgeview Elementary (West Vancouver)
“Actions really do speak louder than words, which is why I believe the 365give Challenge has resonated throughout my community. Every give we do is so important to us and leaves us happier and appreciating our lives a little bit more than before.”
Mahina Niyozova (Tajikistan)
“After watching the 365give TEDx Talk, I was inspired to join and begin a daily giving program in India. Today, along with 12 other volunteer women, we provide 100 meals to local underprivileged children in Bangalore for school every day.”
Deepika Ahuja, Mom (Bangalore, India)
“My life has greater meaning now.”
Renate Jorge, @BeKindBrazil and 365give Member, Family Program (Brazil)
“I just wanted to share that 365give really helped me. I am a better person now, thank you.”
MayLee, 365give Member, Individual Program
“This 365give Challenge has really injected excitement and extra enthusiasm in each work day as I think about what we can do. It has motivated me and the students.”
Cristina Peters, School Counselor (New York City, USA)
“I have seen a huge shift in energy throughout my classroom since doing the 365give Challenge. The Challenge has empowered my students to make a positive difference in the school’s community and beyond.”
Cella Adriana, Special Needs Educator /The Holliswood School (New York City, USA)
“The 365give Challenge helps students understand their impact on others. It opens avenues for introducing and discussing global and local issues in classrooms. It is powerful to watch students of all ages think about how they can make a change in another person’s life with one small act.”
Jessica Hall, Primary Teacher, French Immersion at École Pauline Johnson (West Vancouver, Canada)