Charity and Donations

Wounded Warrior runner Mike Bowen, with the Canadian Coast Guard, runs on Highway 4 towards Port Alberni on Feb. 27, 2020. A practice run will take place Feb. 5 from Sooke to Sidney in preparation for the main run from Feb. 26 to March 5. (Contributed – John Penner)

Wounded Warriors warm-up event hits the road Sunday

Runners set course from Sooke to Sidney

 

Performer Blake Elliott presented a cheque for $10,000 from the ‘mister Blake foundation’ to Refresh Mobile Shower Ministry’s Bill Keyes in Abbotsford on Jan. 19. The ministry provides showers in a mobile unit to the unhoused, in partnership with other service providers in Abbotsford and Maple Ridge. (Ben Lypka/Abbotsford News)

Mobile shower ministry gets big boost to continue work in Fraser Valley

Abbotsford-based group has provided 2,600 showers to people in need since 2019

 

First Link® Dementia Helpline can provide you with the support and answeres you need.

Stand up against dementia stigma this Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

Jana Schulz of Cranbrook, B.C. – a registered social worker, working as…

  • Jan 9, 2023

 

10-year-old Ivy Costello and YANA executive director Kelly Barnie show off Ivy’s new diamond ring. Photo supplied

10-year-old all smiles after $5,600 diamond ring pops out of her Christmas cracker

Visitor from New Zealand wins grand prize in annual Comox Valley fundraiser

10-year-old Ivy Costello and YANA executive director Kelly Barnie show off Ivy’s new diamond ring. Photo supplied
A fire investigator from Port Alberni Fire Department examines the aftermath of a Boxing Day fire at a home on Haslam Lane, Dec. 27, 2022. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Four people escape Boxing Day house fire in Port Alberni

Son starts fundraiser for mother, who lost everything in early-morning blaze

A fire investigator from Port Alberni Fire Department examines the aftermath of a Boxing Day fire at a home on Haslam Lane, Dec. 27, 2022. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
100+ Women Who Care Victoria donate more than $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity Victoria, Dec. 15. (Courtesy of Jenessa Mattson)

100+ Women Who Care Victoria donates $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity

The donation will help the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity provide aid for those who need it

100+ Women Who Care Victoria donate more than $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity Victoria, Dec. 15. (Courtesy of Jenessa Mattson)
The SOS Toy Shop welcomes parents, caregivers, grandparents and great-grandparents who need help getting gifts for their young family members. The gifts are donated by the community. (Submitted photo)

Island woman deals with challenges of facing Christmas at age 86 with one income

Access to SOS Caring for Community at Christmas program provides relief

The SOS Toy Shop welcomes parents, caregivers, grandparents and great-grandparents who need help getting gifts for their young family members. The gifts are donated by the community. (Submitted photo)
Briana Greer (left) in Terrace with her mother, Sheila Myshrall, who urgently needs a kidney transplant. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard) Anyone wishing to donate would need to call Vancouver General Hospital and mention Sheila Myshrall’s name. (Black Press Media file photo)

Daughter hopes for ‘Christmas miracle’ as B.C. mom’s kidney fails

Briana Greer hopes to save mom on B.C. kidney waiting list

Briana Greer (left) in Terrace with her mother, Sheila Myshrall, who urgently needs a kidney transplant. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard) Anyone wishing to donate would need to call Vancouver General Hospital and mention Sheila Myshrall’s name. (Black Press Media file photo)
Shirley Lou Hansen, a resident of Parkwood Place, helps a student place her gingerbread house in the village. (Courtesy of Cheryl Chalifour)

Victoria seniors and students work together for Habitat for Humanity

Local seniors and students spread holiday spirit, building an intergenerational gingerbread village

Shirley Lou Hansen, a resident of Parkwood Place, helps a student place her gingerbread house in the village. (Courtesy of Cheryl Chalifour)
Indie, a two-year-old border collie-Australian shepherd cross from Nanaimo, is being featured with 14 other pets from across Canada in Bosley’s by Pet Valu’s 2023 calendar, which raises money to help homeless pets. (Brittni Panter photo)

Vancouver Island dog is ‘Miss August’ in national fundraiser calendar

Bosley’s by Pet Valu chooses photograph of Indie taken in Nanaimo

  • Dec 12, 2022
Indie, a two-year-old border collie-Australian shepherd cross from Nanaimo, is being featured with 14 other pets from across Canada in Bosley’s by Pet Valu’s 2023 calendar, which raises money to help homeless pets. (Brittni Panter photo)
14 members of Whonnock Roofing and Gutters shovelled walks on Nov. 30 for donations to the family of Savanna Gervais. (Clay Gagnon/Special to The News)

B.C. company shovels driveways to collect donations for 4-year-old cancer victim

Whonnock Roofing collected more than $6,000 for family of Savanna Gervais

14 members of Whonnock Roofing and Gutters shovelled walks on Nov. 30 for donations to the family of Savanna Gervais. (Clay Gagnon/Special to The News)
Volunteers from the Oceanview Community Church hand out cookies to students and staff in the Ladysmith Secondary School foyer. (Photo submitted)

Island churchgoers given hundreds of pounds of flour, decide to bake 1,300 cookies

Ladysmith’s Oceanview Community Church comes up with ‘Milk and Cookie Day’ idea for students

  • Nov 30, 2022
Volunteers from the Oceanview Community Church hand out cookies to students and staff in the Ladysmith Secondary School foyer. (Photo submitted)
CFAX Santas Anonymous has supported Victoria children and families, at Christmas and throughout the year, for decades.

45 years of changing lives, one Christmas gift at a time!

It all started 50 years ago when Victoria businesswoman Marilyn Cann, her…

  • Nov 28, 2022
CFAX Santas Anonymous has supported Victoria children and families, at Christmas and throughout the year, for decades.
This display of the great hall in Hogwarts is just one of the amazing creations at the Gingerbread Showcase. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

VIDEO: Victoria’s Habitat for Humanity sparks magic with annual Gingerbread Showcase

With the holidays upon us, Habitat for Humanity makes it easy to donate to local families in need

This display of the great hall in Hogwarts is just one of the amazing creations at the Gingerbread Showcase. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
Lindsey and Grayson Drakeley attend the launch of Help Fill A Dream and Country Grocer’s 2022 holiday campaign at Eurosa Farms in Central Saanich. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

Help Fill A Dream, Country Grocer launch 2022 holiday campaign for Vancouver Island families

Help Fill A Dream has helped over 3,400 Vancouver Island and Gulf Island families since 1986

Lindsey and Grayson Drakeley attend the launch of Help Fill A Dream and Country Grocer’s 2022 holiday campaign at Eurosa Farms in Central Saanich. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Threshold Housing Society executive director Colin Tessier (from left); Sara Neely, director of philanthropic services for the Victoria Foundation; and Cody McMullin, investment counsellor with RBC Phillips Hager & North Investment Counsel, announce a $3.1 million donation to Threshold Housing Society at its supportive recovery program. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

Victoria’s Threshold Housing Society receives $3.1M gift

The donation from Clint and Carole Forster is the largest Threshold has ever received

Threshold Housing Society executive director Colin Tessier (from left); Sara Neely, director of philanthropic services for the Victoria Foundation; and Cody McMullin, investment counsellor with RBC Phillips Hager & North Investment Counsel, announce a $3.1 million donation to Threshold Housing Society at its supportive recovery program. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
KELSET Elementary School principal Tassie Harris (left) and Knights of Columbus Sidney trustee Joe Bourdeau with a jacket the group gave to a student at the school. (Courtesy of Joe Bourdeau)

Knights of Columbus Sidney donates coats to kids

Some Ukrainian refugees received coats at Parkland Secondary School

KELSET Elementary School principal Tassie Harris (left) and Knights of Columbus Sidney trustee Joe Bourdeau with a jacket the group gave to a student at the school. (Courtesy of Joe Bourdeau)
The goal of the auction is to raise $5,000 to go toward education and living expenses for women and girls in Afghanistan. (Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan/Facebook)

Victoria chapter hosting online auction to raise funds for women in Afghanistan

Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan fundraiser will help with education and living expenses

The goal of the auction is to raise $5,000 to go toward education and living expenses for women and girls in Afghanistan. (Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan/Facebook)
(Black Press Media Creative)

MacKenzie Scott donates $84.5 million to Girl Scouts

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $84.5 million to Girl Scouts of the USA…

(Black Press Media Creative)
Crystal Gelsinger, executive director of the Sooke Transition House Society, says proceeds from the new Thrift Boutique will assist women and children in desperate need in the community. Gelsinger’s stylishly chic outfit was created from items donated to the Thrift Boutique. (Rick Stiebel - Sooke News Mirror)

New thrift store supports Transition House

When you barter for a bargain at this thrift boutique, your purchase…

Crystal Gelsinger, executive director of the Sooke Transition House Society, says proceeds from the new Thrift Boutique will assist women and children in desperate need in the community. Gelsinger’s stylishly chic outfit was created from items donated to the Thrift Boutique. (Rick Stiebel - Sooke News Mirror)