I Stop – how does it work for you?

By Guest Blogger Alix Woods, Development Associate, Missing Children Society of Canada

As the only non-profit organization in Canada that actively searches for missing children, the Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC) touches a lot of people – a lot of different ways. MCSC receives letters and notes from Canadians telling stories about how they are contributing to ending abduction. It’s the families of missing children who keep in touch with our organization.  It’s the farmer from Ontario who grows a pumpkin patch and donates the proceeds from the pumpkin sales. It’s the brand new father who can’t bear imagine what those families go through and writes a song to express his support. It’s the little girl in Ontario who in lieu of birthday presents, asks for donations from her friends and sends it to us. All with thoughts, energy and messages of hope.

Constantly inspired by how Canadians contribute, we turned that idea on ourselves – instead of us creating a Volunteer Program based on our needs, why don’t we let the inspiring acts of Canadians build it instead? It became our I Stop movement – a movement that empowers every Canadian to decide how they want to help, no matter how big or small. A corporate sponsorship, a call to the tip line, Liking our Facebook page, volunteering as a translator or putting up a poster, it doesn’t matter. Every step you take brings us one step closer to ending abduction and bringing missing children home to their searching families.

So now we’re asking Canadians to bring their best assets to the table – what are you passionate about, what do you love to do, what do you stay up past your bedtime reading about? Maybe it’s technology, maybe’s it’s crafting, maybe its gardening but every I Stop action is a fun challenge – finding ways to translate your passion into an I Stop action to end child abduction.

Our latest I Stop action was signing MCSC up as an organization on GetInvolved.ca – and in the two weeks we have been a member, 8 Canadians have stepped forward and taken their first I Stop action, by emailing us to offer to bring their best assets to the table.

So what do you do best? Visit our website for more examples of how your passion can become an I Stop action.