EditorSA国际影视传媒檚 note: Belong to a non-profit, volunteer group or community organization and want to let people know what youSA国际影视传媒檙e up to? Let us know and weSA国际影视传媒檒l get the word out for you on our new At Your Service page. Call (873-4031) or email (editorial@old.nnsl.com) so we can get the information out to our readers.

In 2012, Josh Hardy was killed in a skateboarding accident on the Frame Lake trail. The 18-year-old Yellowknifer was not wearing a helmet.

Now, his life, legacy and giving spirit is celebrated through Helmets for Hardy, a non-profit organization that gifts the less fortunate with life-saving headgear.

Not long after JoshSA国际影视传媒檚 passing his friends approached his mother Jackie Hardy with an idea: LetSA国际影视传媒檚 raise money to give away helmets to kids who canSA国际影视传媒檛 afford them.

A year later, in 2013, with funds raised from bracelet sales and the help of a couple community contributors and collaborators SA国际影视传媒� including city councillor Niels Konge and Canadian Tire SA国际影视传媒� the idea became a reality.

SA国际影视传媒淭he first year was a small year but it was good,SA国际影视传媒� recalled Jackie.

From there, the organization, led by Jackie and JoshSA国际影视传媒檚 father, Ed, only grew.

The pair received funds raised from the Yellowknife Fire Division and the memorial hockey game in 2014, which allowed the non-profit to donate helmets to kids in Yellowknife for the next three years.

On Saturday, Helmets for Hardy will mark its seventh annual helmet giveaway.

Just last year, things werenSA国际影视传媒檛 looking so good for the group.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were basically out of funds,SA国际影视传媒� said Jackie. SA国际影视传媒淲e were almost ready to shut it down.SA国际影视传媒�

But in an act of generosity, YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Robinson family, through the Gary Robinson Memorial Fund and the Yellowknife Community Foundation, stepped up to help fund the sixth annual helmet giveaway.

More generosity poured in, this time from the One Hundred Men Who Give a Damn, which gave Helmets for Hardy $10,000 in order to operate for the next three years.

Helmets for Hardy aims to hand out 180 uniquely-styled helmets at this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 event, set to take place June 15 in the parking lot at St. Joseph's High School on Range Lake Road.

Along with giving back to the community and educating residents about preventing head injuries, Jackie said the events help keep her son JoshSA国际影视传媒檚 memory alive SA国际影视传媒� while helping her and her family find closure.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 helping us heal as well,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 something he probably would have enjoyed doing.SA国际影视传媒�

Jackie said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 also happy to see more kids in town wearing helmets SA国际影视传媒� regardless of whether it stems from the groupSA国际影视传媒檚 efforts, the bike rodeo or the citySA国际影视传媒檚 bylaw SA国际影视传媒� introduced after her sonSA国际影视传媒檚 death SA国际影视传媒� to ensure kids under 18 wear helmets when out on the road.

Looking ahead, with retirement and plans to move away from Yellowknife on the horizon, Jackie is hoping another community group can take the reigns of Helmets for Hardy in the coming years.

SA国际影视传媒淚f we can find the right group to keep it going, weSA国际影视传媒檇 love to have another group take it on,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒� We just want to make sure itSA国际影视传媒檚 done the way we created it and the way itSA国际影视传媒檚 intended for.SA国际影视传媒�

Residents attending the seventh annual giveaway on Saturday can expect a fun-filled day packed with balloon animals, face painting and music.

At Your Service Briefs

The NWT SPCA is seeking volunteers

The NWT SPCA is seeking volunteers to sell tickets for its upcoming Summer Mega Cash Raffle. Interested Yellowknifers who can spare an hour or two are asked to volunteer their time to sell raffle tickets on Fridays at the Stanton Plaza Liquor Store ahead of the summer fundraiser.

Tickets are $50 a pop and only 100 are printed. Buyers have the chance to win $25,000 if all tickets SA国际影视传媒� which can also be grabbed at the Independent Grocer and the Yellowknife Co-op at various dates throughout the summer SA国际影视传媒� are sold.

Interested volunteers are asked to contact Stephanie at volunteer@nwtspca.com or 867-447-0181. The Summer Mega Cash Raffle will take place on Aug. 31 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the 118 Falcon Rd. Engle Business District.

NWT SPCA temporarily halts intake at shelter

The NWT SPCA, a Yellowknife-based non-profit committed to strengthening the quality of life for dogs, cats and all domesticated animals in the North, announced late last week that it does not have room to take in more dogs at its city shelter.

SA国际影视传媒淲e do not have the room,SA国际影视传媒� stated a Facebook post on June 7.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have 33 communities to help so it is overwhelming at times.SA国际影视传媒�

However, the decision to halt intake is temporary.

The post states the society SA国际影视传媒渨ill keep helping,SA国际影视传媒� but that it needs to first arrange some adoptions to make space for newcomers.

SA国际影视传媒淚f you need to surrender your dog please contact us by email. It will take time but we will accept your dog,SA国际影视传媒� states the Facebook post.