Local Energy Provider Helps Keep Alberta Charity’s Lights On
By Samantha Prior and Deanna McArthur
Kids Cancer Care has found a unique way to reduce its operating costs with the help of a local energy provider.
Every month we all have to pay for electricity and natural gas, and charitable organizations are no exception. Utilities are an example of the type of costs that charities, who have the sole goal of helping others in some form or another, are facing on a regular basis.
Although necessary costs, these expenses tie up in funds that could be used to help an organization do good in their community.
Kids Cancer Care is a perfect example of one of these charities. With the help of Sandstone Energy, a local electricity and natural gas provider, the burden is less. For the past year, Sandstone Energy has been providing Kids Cancer Care and Camp Kindle energy at cost.
The discount on energy for the Kids Cancer Care has translated into savings of over $1,000 in just 11 months.
These savings mean more of their operating budget and resources can go towards running the various amazing programs and services, and less towards keeping the lights on, literally.
“We wanted to give back to the community and Sandstone Energy is our way of doing this, in the form of a legacy project,” said Nick Clark, Co-Owner of Sandstone Energy which operates under the umbrella organization of UTILITYnet. “We want to, like most people, help kids who are fighting for a more normal life. No one should be making money off of charities like this. We should be doing our best to help them instead.”
Kids Cancer Care has found a unique way to reduce its operating costs with the help of a local energy provider.
Every month we all have to pay for electricity and natural gas, and charitable organizations are no exception. Utilities are an example of the type of costs that charities, who have the sole goal of helping others in some form or another, are facing on a regular basis.
Although necessary costs, these expenses tie up in funds that could be used to help an organization do good in their community.
Kids Cancer Care is a perfect example of one of these charities. With the help of Sandstone Energy, a local electricity and natural gas provider, the burden is less. For the past year, Sandstone Energy has been providing Kids Cancer Care and Camp Kindle energy at cost.
The discount on energy for the Kids Cancer Care has translated into savings of over $1,000 in just 11 months.
“We wanted to give back to the community and Sandstone Energy is our way of doing this, in the form of a legacy project,” said Nick Clark, Co-Owner of Sandstone Energy which operates under the umbrella organization of UTILITYnet. “We want to, like most people, help kids who are fighting for a more normal life. No one should be making money off of charities like this. We should be doing our best to help them instead.”
A Cure for Every Child, Care for Every Family
Kids Cancer Care was founded 25 years ago, and originally offered camp programs to kids who suffered from Cancer. 
“Kids Cancer Care was started essentially because there was nothing else happening for children with cancer in the province of Alberta,” said Christine McIver, founder and CEO of Kids Cancer Care. “There weren’t any camp programs or real support programs, and there was certainly no research happening for children with cancer either.”
Kids Cancer Care later expanded into outreach programs for the siblings of children affected by cancer. It now has programs for rehabilitation, tutoring, donating to childhood cancer research, and granting scholarships to cancer survivors.
10 years ago, Kids Cancer Care purchased its own camp called Camp Kindle, which McIver describes as “the best place in the world”. Located 10 kilometres west of the town of Water Valley, it was levelled and rebuilt in 2011 to make it accessible to all children.
With 19 buildings at camp kindle and the office in Calgary, Kids Cancer Care’s energy needs have grown substantially over the years.
Helping those Affected by Cancer Survive and Thrive
as eating and walking. This is where the PEER (Pediatric cancer patients and survivors Engaging in Exercise for Recovery) program at the Calgary office is utilized.
The PEER programs are run by Ph.D. holding Carolina Chamorro Vina, who offers physical therapy in hopes of getting participants moving again.
“Once Carolina has got them up and confident in their walking, talking, moving abilities again, we'll make sure that the kids continue to play,” said McIver. “Play is kids work and if they don't work, they don't thrive. And of course, we want them to thrive.”
It is not just the physical challenges that children affected by cancer face. They spend many months at a time out of school. When they are well enough to go back to school, they are so far behind their peers, they do not have a chance to catch up. That’s where Kids Cancer Care steps in with their tutoring services in both the home and in the Calgary office’s classrooms.
“We want to make sure that they’re learning almost as well as their peers,” said McIver. “If we get to almost as well as their peers, we're pretty darn happy. But we see a lot of kids excel too.”
“To me, that's better than Christmas,” said McIver. “To see these young people, many of whom have grown up in our programs, receive a scholarship and know that they're going on to some pretty big programs. You never get tired of it.”
Some of those ‘big programs’ include the University of Calgary, Mount Royal University, and the Alberta University of Art. Many have chosen to focus their studies in science, with ambitions of becoming doctors, nurses, and psychologists.
Inspired by any of this and want to help make a lasting impact in these admirable young lives? You too can help by going to the Kids Cancer Care website at www.kidscancercare.ab.ca. Become a part of the Kids Cancer care team of 650 ‘volunployees’ or donate and help fund the amazing programs they deliver.
Give Even More with Sandstone Energy
Providing energy at cost to Kids Cancer Care is not the only way Sandstone is giving back to the local community. 100% of all the profits from the sale of energy by Sandstone goes to supporting the Calgary Public Library Foundation. “In December 2017, Sandstone Energy partnered with the Calgary Public Library Foundation,” said Clark. “From then on we have been donating and plan to donate all our profits over 10 years in hopes of raising $1 million dollars by 2028.”
“I wanted to support the Calgary Public Library because it is an extremely important part of my life,” said Madeline Low, Co-Owner of Sandstone Energy. “I am a first-generation Chinese immigrant to Canada. When I was young and new to the country, I spent a lot of time reading books. Books gave me insight into what I could accomplish in Canada and the stories told will open up a new world to people that they never knew existed before.”
Those profits from Sandstone Energy will go to supporting the Calgary Public Library system and the numerous programs it provides.
“Within a decade our group will celebrate our 50th year in being involved in Alberta’s energy business and we felt that there was no better way to celebrate this milestone,” said Clark.
Albertans can sign up to buy their electricity or natural gas from Sandstone Energy and join this community-sponsored program. online at www.sandstoneenergy.ca
