This Christmas Day, it’s nice to know that the spirit of giving remains strong in our community. It might even be stronger than ever.
The sa国际传媒 Christmas Fund campaign passed $1 million on Monday. That is the first time we have passed that threshold before Dec. 25.
You are making a difference. You are making life better for others, during the festive season and for months to come. Thank you, sincerely, for that.
Our goal at the start of this campaign was to surpass the $1.12 million we raised last year. Now that $3,042 individuals, families and businesses have donated $1,076,388.25, my only question is how far we can go.
A list of donors from the past week appeared in Tuesday's sa国际传媒. The list includes a donation from me. I can hardly ask you to give if I am not prepared to do the same.
I want to know that my donation is being used as efficiently as possible, and I think most of you feel the same way.
So after we raised the money, where does it go?
That’s where the good people in the local chapter of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller, get involved.
The volunteers in the Sovereign Order have done thorough research into dozens of local charitable organizations, identifying the ones that do the most with the money they have. It’s doubtful that any individual could do the level of analysis that those volunteers have done on your behalf.
There is massive need this year, so it is important that the money we raise helps as many people as possible.
The sa国际传媒 covers most of the costs of the fundraising. The volunteers in the Sovereign Order – the people who are, to be honest, doing the most important work – are not compensated for the extensive research they do.
Back to the question. Where does the money go?
Fifty-five charitable organizations received money from the sa国际传媒 Christmas Fund this year. Here they are:
• Breakfast2Music Society; Bridges For Women; Campbell River and District Food Bank Society; Coalition of Neighbourhood Houses; Cobble Hill-Mill Bay-Shawnigan Lake Food Bank Society.
• Community First Foundation; Comox Valley Food Bank Society; Cowichan Green Community Foundation; Cowichan Valley Basket Society; Cowichan Valley Youth Services.
• Cridge Centre for the Family; Denman Island Community Education Society; Family Services of Greater Victoria; Food Bank on the Edge; Goldstream Food Bank.
• HerWay Home (VI Health Authority); Hulitan Family and Community Services Society; Island Metis Family and Community Services Society; James Bay New Horizons; John Howard Society of Victoria.
• Lake Cowichan Food Bank Society; Living Edge Community Church; Loaves and Fishes Food Bank Foundation; Mayne Island Food Bank; Mustard Seed Street Church.
• 9-10 Club Serving Soup to the Hungry; Nourish Cowichan; Oak Bay Volunteer Services Society; Our Place Society; Pender Island Food Bank.
• People for a Healthy Community on Gabriola Society; Rotary Club of Victoria-Harbourside Foundation; Saanich Volunteer Services Society; Salvation Army; Salvation Army Alberni Valley Corps.
• Salvation Army Ocean Crest Corps; Seniors Serving Seniors; Shelbourne Community Kitchen Society; Soap for Hope sa国际传媒 Society; Society of St. Vincent de Paul Vancouver Island.
• Sooke Food Bank Society; St. Barnabas Church; St. John the Divine Anglican Church; Ukrainian Catholic Parish of St. Nicholas; Umbrella Society for Mental Health and Addictions.
• University of Victoria Student Society; Vancouver Island Kids Klub Centre Society; VI Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees; Victoria Association for Community Living; Victoria Community Food Hub Society.
• Victoria Cool Aid Society; Victoria Native Friendship Centre; Victoria Rainbow Kitchen Society; Victoria Women’s Transition House; Victoria Youth Empowerment Society.
All of these groups are doing all they can to help their communities.
Your donations are making a tremendous difference.
Thank you, and merry Christmas.
HOW TO DONATE TO THE CHRISTMAS FUND
• Go online to . That page is linked to sa国际传媒Helps, which is open 24 hours a day and provides an immediate tax receipt.
• Use your credit card by phoning 250-995-4438 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Cheques should be made out to the sa国际传媒 Christmas Fund. Bring or mail your cheque to the sa国际传媒, 201鈥�655 Tyee Rd., Victoria, sa国际传媒 V9A 6X5.
• Contact Maximum Express for free pickup and delivery of your cheque. Call dispatch at 250-721-3278 or email [email protected].
Dave Obee is editor and publisher of the sa国际传媒.
