With only a month and a half left to go in the harvest season, the LifeCycles Fruit Tree Project has almost reached its goal of rescuing 18,000 kilograms of fruit that would otherwise go to waste.
So far, 180 volunteers have harvested almost 14,000 kg of fresh fruit from 340 neighbourhood trees. The fresh fruit has been distributed to 26 social-service agencies, which equates to feeding approximately 12,750 people.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a different year, the fruit is more than a month ahead of schedule, as compared to last year, so it has been a challenge to get all the fruit harvested in time. Our storage facilities are bursting at the seams,鈥� said project co-ordinator Jenny McCartney. 鈥淭he year has been early and abundant, but I鈥檓 confident that we can reach our goal if we have consistent volunteers and fruit stays on the trees a bit longer.鈥�
At the beginning of September, the group launched its first crowdfunding campaign to raise $5,000 to help cover costs involved in running the project. So far, just over $1,200 has been raised.
鈥淲e really need to ramp things up to reach our goal in the next 10 days,鈥� said Tim Fryatt, harvest co-ordinator.
Fruit harvested is split four ways 鈥� between homeowners, volunteers, social-service agencies and to the LifeCycles social enterprise, which makes fruit into value-added products such as cider, vinegar and quince paste.
People can support the crowdfunding campaign at lifecycles.causevox.com.
Support your favourite charity at Ride for Refuge
鈥淲hat moves our heart will move our feet,鈥� say organizers of Saturday鈥檚 Ride for Refuge, a bike ride where people can support their favourite charity. Last year about 300 participants raised more than $100,000.
The family-friendly bike ride or walk is an opportunity for people of all ages and fitness levels to do something great to support a cause that moves them.
This year, 17 local charities, including the Cridge Centre for the Family, Mustard Seed, Mercy Ships and the Inter-Cultural Association, have gathered teams for the event.
鈥淟ives are changed every day at the Cridge Centre,鈥� says Joanne Specht, manager of communication and fund development. 鈥淔unds that are raised for any charity through the Ride for Refuge are bringing huge changes and improvements in the lives of individuals and families all over Victoria and the world. When you support a charity that serves the vulnerable, the displaced or the exploited, you know that you are changing lives for the better.鈥�
Ride options include a 10-, 25- or 50-kilometre bike ride or a five-km walk. Registration opens at 8 a.m. Oct. 3 at the Saanich Community Church, 4566 West Saanich Rd. Lunch is available when riders/walkers complete the course. Maps of the routes can be found on the website. For more information, go to rideforrefuge.org/location/victoria.
Bishop to speak at society meeting
The Right Rev. Dr. Logan McMenamie, Anglican Bishop for the Diocese of British Columbia, will give a presentation, For the Least Among Us, in conjunction with the Threshold Housing Society鈥檚 annual general meeting on Saturday.
Anybody who might be interested in getting involved with supporting youth housing is invited to attend, with refreshments served.
The society, a registered charity, supports and works at housing at-risk youth.
The talk starts at 3 p.m. Saturday in the lower lounge of St. John the Devine Anglican Church, 1611 Quadra St. Parking at rear of church.
For more information, go to thresholdhousing.ca.
First Fridays are fantastic at St. Luke鈥檚
The first Friday of the month is Fantastic Friday at St. Luke鈥檚 Hall. People taking part in the event are treated to a free dinner, activities for all ages, intriguing games, art to try, theatre fun, group projects, songs and stories and more. The event takes place every month until next June (except January, when it will be on the second Friday). The event runs 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday.
The Blessing of the Animals service takes place next Sunday, Oct. 4. You and your animal friends are invited to attend a 30-minute service that includes a blessing of the animals at the end. Bring your pet (or a picture of your pet) to the service to be blessed. The service starts at 9:15 a.m.
Both events take place at St. Luke Cedar Hill, Cedar Hill Cross Road at Cedar Hill Road. More information at stlukesvictoria.ca or call the church office at 250-477-6741.
Art pianos up for grabs at cabaret and auction
Bid on an art piano or just enjoy the music and company at the Art Piano Cabaret and Auction, a fundraiser for the Oak Bay Public Art Program, on Thursday.
Attendees can meet the artists behind the colourful art pianos, which were located at public locations in Oak Bay over the summer.
There were four art pianos commissioned for this year, painted by Daciana Dao, Robert Amos, Sherryl Hustins and Jim McFarland. Three of them will be offered to the highest bidder.
Last year, two pianos were auctioned, raising $2,200 for the fund, which promotes public art in the municipality of Oak Bay. At Thursday鈥檚 event, people can enjoy live music by alumni of the College of Performing Arts, martinis, champagne, hors d鈥檕euvres and bid on a piano. If you can鈥檛 afford the pianos themselves, you can get the next best thing 鈥� one of a series of photographs of the pianos in situ taken by photographer Peter Ramos. Partial proceeds from the sale of the photos will benefit the fundraiser.
Admission is $20. The event runs 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the lobby of the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, 1175 Beach Dr.
For more information call Barbara Adams, 250-686-2272.
鈥楾he most sensational non-event of the year鈥�
The premise of the Greater Victoria Public Library鈥檚 Stay Home and Read a Book fundraiser is simple: Instead of spending Friday night on the town, curl up with a good book and donate the money you would have spent on meals, drinks and entertainment to enhance the library鈥檚 collection.
The library calls the Oct. 2 fundraiser 鈥渢he most sensational non-event of the year.鈥�
Money raised will be used to purchase more materials to enhance the library鈥檚 collection, ranging from e-books to magazines to children鈥檚 kits with puppets and toys.
鈥淲e are delighted to invite new and existing library supporters to make a personal and collective contribution to the success of GVPL,鈥� said Kathy Santini, vice-chairwoman of the library鈥檚 development committee. 鈥淭his is a great chance for Greater Victoria to enjoy a good book while at the same time, showing support for the library as the cornerstone of our community.鈥�
Every year, cardholders borrow about six million books, magazines, DVD鈥檚 and other items. It is one of the busiest libraries in the country, with the highest circulation per-capita in sa国际传媒.
For more information and to make your pledge, visit any branch or gvpl.ca/stayathome.
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Find your niche at volunteer fair
Looking to engage in the community by volunteering, but unsure of the right fit for your skills, interests and time commitment? You鈥檙e in luck, as Volunteer Victoria is holding a Volunteer Recruitment Fair on Thursday.
Explore a wide range of volunteer opportunities offered by 58 local organizations that are already serving the needs of the community.
Admission is free. The fair runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Union Building at the University of Victoria.
For more information, please call George Colussi at Volunteer Victoria, 250-386-2269, ext. 26. For more information, go to volunteervictoria.bc.ca.
United Church creates Our Place legacy fund
The Victoria Presbytery and the sa国际传媒 Conference of the United Church have partnered to donate $500,000 for the formation of a legacy fund for Our Place to ensure that help is always available to the most vulnerable citizens in the Greater Victoria region.
鈥淧overty is a complex issue that may never be completely solved,鈥� said Don Evans, executive director of the society. 鈥淏ut this legacy fund will generate income for years to come. And that is a gift that will change many lives.鈥�
鈥淥ur Place has a huge heart for those in need in Victoria,鈥� said Rev. Doug Goodwin, executive secretary of the sa国际传媒 Conference. 鈥淲ithout losing that heart, it is looking to the future so it can be a place of caring and hands-on assistance as long as it is needed. United Church folk throughout the province are pleased to be able to lend our support in creating a financial legacy, which can provide a strong foundation for heart-driven work for years to come.鈥�
The donation will be placed into a special legacy fund, with the income generated used to help fund operations, programs and services.
People wishing to make a contribution or designate a bequest to the fund can contact Laura Walsh, director of development, at 250-413-3161.
Our Place is an inner-city community centre that serves Greater Victoria鈥檚 most vulnerable. For more information, go to ourplacesociety.com.
Volunteers needed for Seniors Serving Seniors
Can you help a senior in need? Seniors Serving Seniors is looking for volunteers for its Return to Health program, a free service that provides social support to live-alone seniors returning home from hospital.
A stay at the hospital can be a very stressful experience 鈥� and many seniors face it alone.
Volunteers visit clients to offer assistance to help them re-connect with existing friends and make them aware of seniors鈥� social programs in the area.
Every year, more than 250 seniors are supported by the program.
Training for new volunteers begins in mid-October and includes topics such as effective communication skills, nutrition, the effects of disease on normal aging, use of mobility aids, navigating the health care system and how to access community programs.
Call Jane Sheaff at 250-382-4331 or visit the website seniorsservingseniors.bc.ca.
Missionary to share years of serving the very poor
Christian missionary Jackie Pullinger will be in Victoria Friday and Saturday, speaking on strategies and outcomes in her work with the very poor. The event is hosted by Village Ministries. She founded St. Stephen鈥檚 Society and for the last 48 years has been ministering the drug addicts, drug cartels, prostitutes and street people of Hong Kong.
For her dedication she was awarded a honorary doctorate degree in social sciences. For her work, she has also been bestowed with a MBE.
Proceeds from her appearance locally will help the outcast Ebola orphans in Liberia, West Africa who need a home, food, clothing and schooling.
Admission is $60.
Lunch with the talk on Saturday is $70.
The event runs 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at North Douglas Church, 675 Jolly Pl.
To register, go to villageministries.net or call 250-480-6848 or 250-595-2881. For more on Pullinger鈥檚 work, go to ststephenssociety.com.
Run for the Cure next Sunday
Lace up your pink shoelaces to help change the face of breast cancer and help create a future without it at the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure next Sunday, Oct. 4.
Every year, Victorians join hundreds of thousands of Canadians in over 60 communities across the country to help to raise funds for breast cancer research, education, and advocacy initiatives.
鈥淏reast cancer impacts almost every Canadian at some point in their lives. This year alone an estimated 25,000 Canadian women and more than 200 men will be diagnosed,鈥� said Jane Parsons, executive director of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
鈥淲e encourage Canadians to start or join a team in the CIBC Run for the Cure, participate in fundraising activities and support friends or colleagues through a donation. Every individual can make a difference. We鈥檙e all in this together.鈥�
Last year, Canadians raised $25 million to help fund the Foundation鈥檚 initiatives. Thanks in part to investments in research, breast-cancer mortality rates have dropped by 44 per cent since their peak in the mid-1980s.
People can take part in one- or five-kilometre walk/runs. Registration runs 7 to 9 a.m. with opening ceremonies at 8:30 and warmup at 8:50 a.m. The 9 a.m. start is preceded by a Survivor Parade at 8:55 a.m. Awards and closing ceremonies take place at 10 a.m. in Parking Lot #4 (beside Centennial Stadium) at the University of Victoria.
To register or support a friend, visit cibcrunforthecure.com.
Firefighters鈥� auxiliary celebrates 65 years
The Women鈥檚 Auxiliary to the Langford Firefighters鈥� Association celebrates 65 years of volunteering in the community with an afternoon tea today in the Westin Bear Mountain.
The organization is the oldest and perhaps the only remaining women鈥檚 auxiliary in sa国际传媒.
Over the years, the auxiliary fundraised to buy equipment for the fire hall that was not included in the budget. They purchased items such as defibrillators, an infrared camera and contributed to the renovation of the kitchens in all three halls. In the 1950s, the organization helped buy an ambulance, helped clean it after a call and kept it stocked with supplies.
They have often provided hot meals to firefighters when out on an extended call 鈥� and still create wholesome hot lunches to trainees on training courses.
Over the past few years, the group have established a bursary called the Education Fund 鈥� available to volunteer firefighters to help them with their extended educational needs.
The group meets at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at #1 Hall, 2625 Peatt Rd.
They are in the process of trying to track down past members. People can contact Agnes Deboer at [email protected] or call 250-478-3962.
Shred those files, help the activity centre
The Cook Street Activity Centre is sponsoring a Shred-A-Thon on Saturday.
People who would like to safely dispose of old files, sensitive and confidential paperwork can bring the material down by donation. The event is in co-operation with Island Document Storage and Shredding.
Suggested donation is $10 per banker box.The event runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the activity centre, 380 Cook St. For more information, go to cookstreetvillage activitycentre.com.
