‘Home’ward Bound

Impactful Real Estate News

March 2018

Do You Trust the Ground Hog to Get It Right?

All I can say is WOW! I am sitting here at my computer typing away, thinking of how grateful we are for the value so many, like you, bring to our real estate business. I’m looking out my office window and there is a sprinkling of clouds and temps forecasted at 16 degrees today for the high. Spring is Springing! Yet, the snow storm the news is predicting we are due to get, however, that is how Canadian weather goes.

We recently visited Cambodia on a missions trip. It was an amazing trip. We connected with people who have gone through unbelievable losses. Millions of Cambodians were killed by the Khmer Rouge in the 70’s. This country which was once known as the pearl of Asia was set back hundreds of years because of the genocide that took place. In the midst of such pain and loss there is now a new generation that is moving past these hurts and devastation. The Cambodians are resilient happy hard-working teachable people. They are in a season of regrowth. They are establishing their lives in a new way.

The Cambodians are able to take what they have at hand and make a business out of it. Whether it is selling coconuts or sugarcane water or flowers for the offerings for the temple they simply do what they need to do to put food on the table for the day. We were glad to make a difference in the villages and communities that we visited. However, poverty exists in our own backyard.

We want to make a difference where we are and by supporting the CityKidz organization, we are thankful for your help as you hear about friends and family who are looking to make a move we appreciate the referrals and then we take a portion of our income to give to CityKidz.

Gratefully, Craig and Coleen

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 sums up “seasons of life” better than I can…

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

So, what does this have to do with you, your home and real estate?

Well, spring is a time of action, people busy trying to get things done they could not do during the winter months. Sort of a renewing of the mind, spirit, of many things GOOD! Hopefully this special season will bring awesome happenings your way. Wouldn’t it be great to simply just grab your favorite book along with your favorite lounge chair, set it right down in your favorite spot somewhere, outside or next to your window, while looking out on a beautiful Spring day and simply ‘RELAX”. Yea, that would be nice. My hope is that you will get to something like that on more than one occasion this Spring. Really enjoy the place you call home! The NEXT season will be here before you know it.

Unfortunately, there are some that will have a Spring Time they would much rather forget.
Like it says in Ecclesiastes, with all the beauty this time of year brings, there is also the ugly for some. Right now, children of Hamilton are living in poverty and there are days where their living situation is at times a fight for their life. For them and their families, the Ground Hog seeing or not seeing its shadow is the furthest thing from their mind. Don’t get me wrong, these children dream of days playing in their own yard or riding their own bike – but for now, they are praying this Spring will be of joy instead of worrying about where their next meal will come from.

Your Referrals Help the Kids…
As you may have heard, CityKidz of Hamilton exist to increase resiliency and inspire children who are living in low-income communities by providing them an assistance, opportunity and for a short time, freedom from their living situation with programs that allow the children a chance to grow and thrive to achieve their dreams. We are thankful to have such a wonderful group close by, doing such great work to help save young people and their families. With over 64,000 weekly home visits, weekend programs, and so much more. The volunteers at CityKidz reach out to over 2000 children every week.

As you know CityKidz depends on sponsorships and donations to help in their work to end Child Poverty in Canada. So, we have pledged to donate a portion of our income from home sales to CityKidz of Hamilton. Our goal is to raise $10,000 (to help them in their quest to end the cycle of poverty so that not child is left behind. We know that working together and supporting CityKidz will make Hamilton a better place to live.

This is where you can help.

Life moves fast for some and we are eager to make the Home Selling or Home Buying experience a smooth and rewarding one. Over the last three+ decades of helping thousands of families sell their home and/or buy another, we have met some wonderful, loving, caring people. People like you!

For anyone considering a move that we help, you can rest assured that not only will they get the award-winning service we are known for, but that a portion of the income we receive from the transaction will go toward a very worthy cause.

Your Referrals Really Do Help the Kids…

I want to make it easy to refer your friends, neighbors, associates or family members considering making a move, so here are your options:

1. You can go to www.HelpTheKidz.com and enter their contact info on line or forward the link to who you know considering a move.

2. Of course you can always call us direct as well at 905-297-4885.

You and your referrals mean more than ever to my team and me. As we move forward in this new season, please know we are extremely thankful for you being a special part of our business.

Sincerely, Craig and Coleen Bush

P.S. You must read the article below, 5 Facts about Child Poverty, Check it out.

CityKidz is Making a Difference and You Can Too!

Over the last three decades of helping thousands of families sell their home and/or buy another, we have met some wonderful, loving, caring people. People like you! So your referrals, those you know considering a move, that we help you can rest assured that not only will they get the award winning service we are known for and the guarantee to back it up, but that a solid portion of the referred income we receive from the transaction will go toward a very worthy cause.

Again, it’s easy to refer your friends, neighbors, associates or family members considering making a move:

You can share this Blog Article with them, and have them contact us.
You can go to www.HelpTheKidz.com and enter their Contact info on line or forward the link to who you know considering a move.
Of course you can always call us direct as well a 905-297-4885.

5 Facts About Childhood Hunger

Original article – CityKidz Hamilton Blog

Over 1,500 kids in Hamilton go hungry every weekend.

During the school week, community meal programs help get many kids get through the week. But these programs can only compensate for families’ food insecurity from Monday to Friday. Kids might be able to get through the school day without the distraction of a grumbling stomach but when the weekend comes, so does hunger.

Hunger and poverty are a vicious cycle.

According to the American Psychological Association, children who are hungry are more likely to perform poorly in school and to require extra educational supports than their well-nourished peers. Poor performance in school puts kids at an educational disadvantage which often translates into limited employment opportunities. Since food insecurity is strongly associated with poverty, childhood hunger feeds into the cycle of poverty.

Hunger impacts mood.

Hunger can have significant impacts on children’s mental health. Hungry kids are more likely to be anxious, irritable and aggressive than those who are well-fed. It is little surprise then, that psychologists advise that one of the first questions you should ask an angry, aggressive or anxious child or teen be: have you eaten today? Alarmingly, research even suggests that childhood hunger can be a strong predictor for depression in teens and young adults.

Hunger is bad for your health.

You probably know that being hungry isn’t particularly healthy. But even occasional childhood food insecurity can have permanent physical and developmental impacts. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute and the University of Calgary studied the effects of hunger on general health. According to Time, their research found that, “children who went hungry at least once in their lives were 2½ times more likely to have poor overall health 10 to 15 years later, compared with those who never had to go without food.”

Children are major food bank users.

Food bank usage in Canada has been rising steadily for the past decade. In 2016, food bank usage was up 28% from just eight years earlier. Sadly, children are overrepresented in the population of food bank users. Though people under the age of 18 make up only 22% of the Canadian population, they account for 36% of the population assisted by food banks.

Learn more about CityKidz, go to www.citykidz.ca

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