Your Times Colonist Christmas Fund has reached $1.17 million, with a couple of days to go before the end of the year. And odds are, more donations will trickle in during the first week of 2021.
This year’s fund drive has already raised $800,000 more than last year’s, driven to a large part by the determination of Island residents to help those in need.
One notable comment, which came with a $500 donation: “At our ages, 91 and 87, we are very fortunate. We’re making this donation to help the many needy people during this dreadful pandemic.”
The campaign has been pushed ahead by match challenges, including 10 by Andrew Beckerman, as well as large donations from local residents, businesses and organizations such as the Victoria Foundation. By the end of business on Tuesday, we had received about 3,800 individual contributions.
The money will be used to help local organizations help people in need. The fund is run by a charitable society, which will strive to draw lasting impact from this money, change that will help our extended community in the cold, rainy months of January and February.
We have already helped the Mustard Seed Street Church, the Salvation Army in Victoria, the Goldstream Food Bank, the Sooke Food Bank, the Saanich Peninsula Food Bank, the Victoria Women’s Transition House, and the Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees.
Recipients north of the Malahat include Nourish Cowichan in Duncan, the Cobble Hill-Mill Bay-Shawnigan Lake Food Bank, the Lake Cowichan Food Bank, the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank in Nanaimo, the Salvation Army in Port Alberni, Parksville and Campbell River, the food banks in the Comox Valley and Campbell River, and Food Bank on the Edge in Ucluelet.
The food banks on Salt Spring Island, Mayne Island, Gabriola Island, Denman Island and Hornby Island have also received money from this fund.
We will do all that we can to help others in the months to come. And we thank you, sincerely, for your generosity, which is making this possible.
HOW TO DONATE
Donate online at timescolonist.com/donate. That will take you to the Canada Helps website, which is open 24 hours a day and provides an immediate tax receipt.
Or mail a cheque, payable to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund Society, to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, 201-655 Tyee Road, Victoria V9A 6X5.
Or use your credit card by phoning 250-995-4438 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. Outside those hours, messages will be accepted.
Donate refundable cans and bottles at Bottle Depot and GFL Environmental.
