Dave Obee is editor and publisher of the Times Colonist. This column is from 2019.
Today’s list of donations to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund includes a small amount from me. The fund is run by a society that is registered as a charitable organization with the Canada Revenue Agency. I help to manage the society. I have written about the fund for years, and I have spoken about it in presentations to a variety of community groups.
I am proud of the work that we do, and I am grateful to our partners — the Salvation Army, Our Place and the Mustard Seed Street Church — for being beside us in helping those in need.
But those are not reasons why I gave money this year, and have given money in the past. My reasons to donate are much more personal than that.
I give money because I have friends and acquaintances who are living close to the poverty line, and need a hand. I am happy to help them, and I am happy to help people I do not know.
I give money because I have close relatives who, through no fault of their own, need to rely on assistance from others, including me.
I give money because of the joy it can bring to the recipients. The Christmas dinner that the Mustard Street arranges every year at the armoury is a quick reminder that it doesn’t take much money to put a smile on someone’s face. Our Christmas Fund covers the hard cost of that dinner, and a small army of volunteers makes it happen.
I give money because this year, I can afford to. Those dollars will mean more to someone else than they do to me.
I give money because years ago, I could not afford to, and I vowed that when I could, I would pass on the help that others gave to me when I needed it.
I give money because all of us — yes, all of us — could be just days or weeks away from an unforeseen financial crisis.
For me, the Christmas Fund is not just another event in the calendar, and not just another task we deal with every year. It is a reflection of our entire community, and a reflection of ourselves. In a small way, it is a reflection of me.
The Times Colonist Christmas Fund is almost as old as I am. It was started in 1956, and it has followed a simple formula for all of these years: We ask our readers to donate money to help the less fortunate.
We all have reasons why we should donate. Not everyone can afford to give, and not everyone wants to give. That’s OK, too; I won’t try to twist anyone’s arm.
Please remember, though, that the holiday season is not just about what we can get; what matters is what we can do for others. Your donation does not need to be big, because every little bit helps. I can make a difference, and so can you.
We have raised and distributed millions of dollars over the years, and the success of the annual campaign is a direct result of your generosity. Last year, the Times Colonist distributed more than $308,000.
With your help, we can beat that total this year.
HOW TO DONATE
• Go to our fundraising page at timescolonist.com/donate; that takes you to the Canada Helps website, which is open 24 hours a day and provides an immediate tax receipt.
• Mail a cheque to Times Colonist Christmas Fund, 201‑655 Tyee Road, Victoria, B.C. V9A 6X5.
• Use your credit card by phoning 250-995-4438 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
LIST OF DONORS
Previous 2019 donations $194,492
Anonymous donations, 150 donors 11,490
Peter Locke 500
A blessed and joyous holiday season to all my family and friends from Doreen McManaman 100
Abby, Nolan and Atlas 100
Adam, Jenn and Mom 250
Alanna 50
Alex and Marianne Bodnar 100
All the best in 2020! 250
Ann McDonald 30
Anne and Geoff Varley 100
Anthony Bute 100
Barbara Szpradowski 25
Barbara Tryfos 100
Beryl McLean 25
Best wishes from Jean and Lesley 50
Beverley Penner 100
Blessings, Macca/S 100
Bob and Ginny Alger 500
Brian Clark 100
Bruce Kallio 230
Bruce Wood 100
C. Ann Brydon 200
Candis Laas 50
Caroline Barron 50
Carolyn Reid 50
Christmas Blessings 200
Cynthia Lodge 100
D.R.C. 50
Daphne McCannell 100
Dave Obee 1,000
David Fissel 75
Deborah Carnes 500
Deidre Hill 20
Deirdre Vincent 25
Disa Hovatta 50
Don and Nancy 100
Donation in appreciation of the
wonderful TUBA CHRISTMAS concert! 25
Dorothy Brimacombe 100
Dr. Ian Hadfield 100
Eric Ballinger 100
Erica Patrick 100
For Alex 300
For my Dad, Stan,
who loved Christmas. 100
For my Grandchildren 300
For Terry 50
Fourth $500 Challenge from Andrew Beckerman 500
From Leadership Victoria 200
From my heart to yours 200
From the Gillis Family 200
From the Parry Family 800
From Todd, Scott and Kelly 300
Galina Alpatoff 50
Gordon & Linda Jones 300
Grayson Laite 50
Happy Holidays from Santa’s Saxes — George, Don, John, Jim, Don and Kryn 420
Happy Holidays from the Ludwig/Pavlis family 50
I.M.O. Mom and Dad 100
In honor of Remy, Miles and Morgan. Merry Christmas 300
In honour of Linda Travers 100
In honour of Zen Leveille 200
In loving memory of Jim and Stan Douglas 100
In loving memory of Maureen 500
In loving memory of my husband Butch Morningstar 250
In loving memory of our Gogie 100
In Loving Memory of Patricia Chester 50
In memory of Alfred George Gibson 100
In memory of Athena Strutt 300
In memory of Barry Campbell 100
In memory of Bill, Margie, Jack, Marge and Gord 100
In memory of Dad, Leigh and Leslie 100
In memory of Dave Rutherford 200
In memory of Doreen and Vera 150
In memory of Edna 50
In memory of Eileen and Dean Atkinson 100
In memory of Florence Ferguson 100
In memory of GAR DIXON 100
In memory of J.C. Barber 500
In memory of Jenn Hanson 100
In memory of Jim 200
In memory of Jim Coffin 100
In memory of John Moore 50
In memory of Ken Greer, founder of The Feast 200
In memory of Laura Schellenberg 100
In memory of Lawrence, Marjory and Kenneth Houghton 100
In memory of loved ones 200
In memory of Lucy 100
In memory of Lynn 50
In memory of Madeline 1,000
In memory of Margaret Courtnall 100
In memory of Merry Connor 100
In memory of Mom, Marie and John 200
In memory of my mom, Barb McCall, who loved Christmas. 100
In memory of Nana Evelyn Wallis 25
In memory of our Mom 100
In memory of our Mom Isobel Petts 50
In memory of our parents — Alan and Susan 100
In memory of our parents Evelyn, Fred and Charlie 500
In memory of Peter Dawson 100
In memory of Philip Russell 100
In memory of Robin and Bennie 250
In memory of Ross Webb 50
In memory of Seth Halton, "500 Fund” founder 100
In memory of Stan. Wanting to help those in need. 200
In memory of Val from Cathie 40
In memory of Victor and Garry Gill 100
In memory of Wesley 100
Irene Riley 50
Irm Houle 500
J. Gray 100
J.C. Hall 100
J.M.D. 200
James Gardner 100
James Stilburn 300
Janis and Richard Jarvin 100
Jason Peter Headecker 100
Jeri Gates 250
Jo Campbell 10,000
John Close 200
Joyce Elliott 100
Judith Murai 100
Ken & Valerie 100
Kevan King 500
Kim Bartlett 50
Lois 50
Loris Yazedjian 100
Lorna Rennie 20
Louise and Don Froggett 200
M. Nevile 100
Margaret Chudyk 50
Margaret Newton 200
Mary 75
Mary Gardner 50
Mary Stonnell 100
Maureen Murray 200
Maureen Songhurst 100
Meghan Selbee 100
Memory of 25 12 59 500
Merry Christmas Andrew & Nola Jackson 300
Merry Christmas from Greg and Patti 50
Merry Christmas from B & D 230
Merry Christmas from Helen Louden 50
Merry Christmas from Kris and Doug 1,000
Merry Christmas from Mark and Pauline 75
Merry Christmas from the Dawson family 200
Merry Christmas from the Henley family 50
Merry Christmas M and B Bay 50
Merry Christmas to All! 200
Merry Christmas to all, John and Simone Wrafter 100
Merry Christmas! 75
Michael Abe 500
Mike and Gayle Maxwell 40
Milton and Helen Gill 50
Miracle on Elsey Lane 250
Morley Bryant 150
Mrs Barb Zielinski 20
Mrs Chris A Gain 50
Norm Shaw 100
Norma Mickelson 25
Pamela Baillie 50
Patricia Farago 250
Paul Schoemaker 500
Peace, Love, Kindness to All 100
Ray Fischer 100
Remembering John, Elizabeth and Iain Forbes 150
Richard Boisvert 30
Ricky Ladyshewsky 100
Robert Britton 50.50
Robert Wilson 200
Samantha Patrick 100
Shannon Sanderson 100
Shirley Metters 200
Steve & Frances Dove 100
Stevenson’s Shoe Clinic 100
Susan Olson 100
Sylvia McKinlay 50
Thank you for helping at such a needy time of year. 200
Thank you for helping our community 50
Thanks for your great work all year long! Michael and Barbara Gergel 50
Thanks Jack Knox 107
The Street’s 200
To brighten the day. 100
Urmas and Lynne Anniko 200
Victoria Chinese Ladies Club 500
Virginia Thalheimer 100
W.W. Propp 400
Warren Penner 100
Wayne and Ellen 250
Wayne Sennett 100
Wishing Peace and Happiness to all, from Barbara and Andre 100
Total $246,819.50
