Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Group accepting gift cards for groceries and gas for family of beaten girl

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Dec, 2014 07:07 PM

    EDMONTON — The founder of a group that helps child victims of sexual abuse says support has been pouring in from people who want to help a six-year-old girl who was badly beaten in Alberta.

    Glori Meldrum of Little Warriors says it started when she and a friend dropped off some presents and a homemade quilt for the girl at the hospital on Christmas Day.

    The girl from the Paul First Nation had been unconscious since she was found in the woods on Dec. 20, but Meldrum says she opened her eyes that day and spoke.

    Meldrum says she and her friend wanted to do more, and representatives from the community suggested the girl's family could use gift cards for food and groceries.

    Meldrum says it's an hour's drive from the community to the hospital in Edmonton, parking is expensive, and the family has other children.

    The River Cree Casino near Edmonton has agreed to be a drop-off point for donations, and while Meldrum says she's been trying to set up a bank account, she says it's been difficult over the holidays.

    "The reason that we're doing it is we want the little girl, and the mom and the dad, and the family and the community to know how much they're loved. Not only by Edmonton and Canada, but even in the U.S," said Meldrum.

    "We've had an RCMP officer and a bunch of his friends that are firefighters put together a package for her, like an iPad and a whole bunch of other things."

    "We've had people send flowers from Ontario, we've had people call from Michigan. It's been just wild."

    The aboriginal girl had been missing for almost two hours when family members found her outdoors on the reserve. Various media reports have said she was found naked in the snow.

    RCMP have arrested a 21-year-old man known to the girl.

    Alberta Health Services said the girl's family is not authorizing the release of updates on her condition.

    Meldrum, who is a survivor of sexual abuse, said the story really affected her.

    "She's so little — six years old. I have a six-year-old daughter. They're so tiny. And the fact that it was so vicious. No child should ever experience that," Meldrum said.

    Meldrum said she's hoping to collect toys for children under 12 as presents for other kids in the girl's community.

    "We'd really like to give a gift to all the kids on the Paul band reserve because I'm sure they had a pretty tough Christmas."

    Meldrum said that until a bank account can be set up, anyone from outside Edmonton who wants to donate gift cars or presents can send them to her business, G(Squared), 10615 124 St., Edmonton, T5N 1F5.

    A co-manager for the Paul band has said a trust fund for the girl, likely in the name of "Christmas Angel," is planned.

    James Clifford Paul faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated sexual assault and kidnapping.

    He is to appear in Stony Plain provincial court on January 7th.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Man charged in Calgary after unlocked running SUV was stolen with baby inside

    Man charged in Calgary after unlocked running SUV was stolen with baby inside
    CALGARY — A young man has been charged after an SUV was stolen in Calgary with a sleeping baby inside.

    Man charged in Calgary after unlocked running SUV was stolen with baby inside

    Ottawa posts $3.2B deficit for October, including impact of income splitting

    Ottawa posts $3.2B deficit for October, including impact of income splitting
    OTTAWA — The federal government said Monday it posted a deficit of $3.2 billion in October due in large part to its new income-splitting plan for families and the doubling of the children's fitness tax credit.

    Ottawa posts $3.2B deficit for October, including impact of income splitting

    Toronto Man Ordered To Pay $1.5 Million For Credit Card Fraud

    Toronto Man Ordered To Pay $1.5 Million For Credit Card Fraud
    FARGO, N.D.—Prosecutors described a Toronto man’s massive credit card fraud scheme as high-tech bank robbery — stealing the identities of 38,000 people in order to bilk dozens of banks.

    Toronto Man Ordered To Pay $1.5 Million For Credit Card Fraud

    Vancouver School Board Calls On Province To Restore Adult Student Funding

    Vancouver School Board Calls On Province To Restore Adult Student Funding
    VANCOUVER — The Vancouver School Board is calling on the B.C. government to reverse a decision that will abolish funding for some adult students.

    Vancouver School Board Calls On Province To Restore Adult Student Funding

    Bail Denied After Charges Re-activated In Alberta Missing Couple Case

    Bail Denied After Charges Re-activated In Alberta Missing Couple Case
    EDMONTON – Police say bail has been denied to Travis Vader after charges of first-degree murder he faced in the deaths of an Edmonton couple were re-activated.

    Bail Denied After Charges Re-activated In Alberta Missing Couple Case

    3-Year-Old Boy Struck In Face, Abandoned At Bus Stop In Surrey

    3-Year-Old Boy Struck In Face, Abandoned At Bus Stop In Surrey
    SURREY, B.C. — A three-year-old boy who police allege was slapped and abandoned by his father at a bus stop was "very distraught," says the woman who took care of him for hours in a nearby liquor store in Surrey, B.C.

    3-Year-Old Boy Struck In Face, Abandoned At Bus Stop In Surrey