Tanara Oliveira/News Staff
The members of the Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA) have shown the real spirit of the holiday season by giving back in a big way.
In a touching act of kindness, VICA worked together to raise an amazing amount of over $23,000 to help families on Vancouver Island who need it. The Grocery Gift Card program and the Holiday Toy Drive, which raised $13,000 and $10,000, respectively, were VICA’s long-running holiday campaigns that led to this large gift.
With the help of $13,000 in gifts, the Grocery Gift Card program was created to help families meet their basic food needs, which can be hard for them because of the cost of living on Vancouver Island. The money that was raised was used to buy gift cards that were then sent to elementary schools.
“Time after time, VICA Members’ commitment to Vancouver Island communities shines brightly through our holiday initiatives,” remarked Rory Kulmala, CEO of the Vancouver Island Construction Association. “The unwavering support of our members empowers us to directly impact the lives of families in need, especially during these challenging times.”
Recipient schools included Ruth King Elementary in Langford, Tillicum in Saanich, George Jay and Oaklands Elementary Schools in Victoria. Each of these elementary schools received $2,150 worth of grocery gift cards to distribute among families within their communities.
“Our members’ enthusiastic participation in VICA’s Grocery Gift Card program and Toy Drive reflects their commitment to fostering happiness and goodwill within our communities,” added Stuart Cuthbert, VICA board chair. “In the face of rising costs in nearly every facet of our society, our members understand that they have the power to make a difference in our communities – which I believe is reflected in these two donations.”
In addition to the Grocery Gift Card program, VICA collected $10,000 worth of new, unwrapped toys at both of its offices. These toys were donated to CFAX’s Santa’s Anonymous, the Great Nanaimo Toy Drive, and the Parksville Society of Organized Services. Additionally, a donation was made to the Ladysmith Resource Centre.
Funds for the grocery gift card program were raised during VICA’s Annual Christmas luncheon, which took place on Dec. 15 at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney, BC. Members generously contributed through sponsorships, ticket sales, 50/50 tickets, and cash donations, exemplifying the organization’s commitment to making a positive impact on their communities during the holiday season.