Charity and Donations

Project Peanut Butter volunteers hoist their jars by the Mustard Seed Street Church on July 21 in celebration of accumulating thousands of peanut butter pounds for Greater Victoria residents in need. Together, Merry Maids of Victoria, Island Nut Roastery and the community contributed roughly 1,400 jars of peanut butter to the program this summer. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

3,000 pounds of peanut butter arrives in Victoria to feed those in need

Program triples Mustard Seed donations, honours late founder

 

SERVING UP Breakfast Spencer Barkley of the North Saanich Fire Department works with colleagues Chuck Hanan and Kurt Barner to unload 300 boxes of cereal and other in-demand breakfast items purchased with a $5,000 donation by CFAX Santas Anonymous Society to the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank. See story on page A8. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

$5,000 donation serves up breakfast for Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank

Santas Anonymous Society donation goes a long way, firefighters deliver the goods

 

Ken Barkman at Save-On-Foods in Garrison Crossing on June 5, 2022. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)

78-year-old Ken Barkman of Chilliwack riding 3,000 kilometres for BC Children’s Hospital

Grandfather helping son and wife, who have adopted four high-risk babies

 

Greater Victoria students receive their donation funding from Victoria Foundation. (Courtesy of Victoria Foundation)

Victoria Foundation Vital Youth project puts donation dollars into students’ hands

Students across Greater Victoria chose initiatives for housing and wellness

Greater Victoria students receive their donation funding from Victoria Foundation. (Courtesy of Victoria Foundation)
The Victoria Cool Aid Society’s Homecoming Matching Challenge donation deadline has been extended until June 10 to help fund some specific programs. (Victoria Cool Aid Society/Facebook)

Victoria Cool Aid Society’s Homecoming challenge to help fill funding gaps

Food security, employment training/placement and seniors programs need cash influx

The Victoria Cool Aid Society’s Homecoming Matching Challenge donation deadline has been extended until June 10 to help fund some specific programs. (Victoria Cool Aid Society/Facebook)
Ashley Howe, executive director of SUPPLY Victoria, and the North Park Neighbourhood Association host a family friendly crafting celebration at the Vancouver Street plaza this Saturday (May 28). (Courtesy SUPPLY Victoria)

Victoria’s free arts supply centre hosting wrapup crafting party May 28

SUPPLY Victoria to pop up in larger location at 750 Fairfield Rd. this summer

Ashley Howe, executive director of SUPPLY Victoria, and the North Park Neighbourhood Association host a family friendly crafting celebration at the Vancouver Street plaza this Saturday (May 28). (Courtesy SUPPLY Victoria)
People are rallying behind the Drombolis family of North Langley. Dad Shane has been battling a rare form of cancer and mom Kristine was recently diagnosed with the very same condition. (GoFundMe)

Community rallies to help B.C. couple battling rare form of cancer

GoFundMe launched after wife was diagnosed with the same rare cancer husband is fighting

People are rallying behind the Drombolis family of North Langley. Dad Shane has been battling a rare form of cancer and mom Kristine was recently diagnosed with the very same condition. (GoFundMe)
Alexie Gray and her husband were blown away by the Child Life Specialists and other staff at BC Children’s Hospital, when their daughter Indigo was receiving care. Now they're participating in the RBC Race for the Kids to raise funds for the hospital.

Once sidelined by a rare and potentially fatal blood disease, this family is now giving back

For Indigo, the hospital was a magical place. Now she’s helping other kids have the same experience.

  • May 16, 2022
Alexie Gray and her husband were blown away by the Child Life Specialists and other staff at BC Children’s Hospital, when their daughter Indigo was receiving care. Now they're participating in the RBC Race for the Kids to raise funds for the hospital.
Alexie Gray and her husband were blown away by the Child Life Specialists and other staff at BC Children’s Hospital, when their daughter Indigo was receiving care. Now they're participating in the RBC Race for the Kids to raise funds for the hospital.

Once sidelined by a rare and potentially fatal blood disease, this family is now giving back

For Indigo, the hospital was a magical place. Now she’s helping other kids have the same experience.

  • May 9, 2022
Alexie Gray and her husband were blown away by the Child Life Specialists and other staff at BC Children’s Hospital, when their daughter Indigo was receiving care. Now they're participating in the RBC Race for the Kids to raise funds for the hospital.
HeroWork Victoria general manager Trevor Botkin gets strong-armed into his jail cell at Uptown in Saanich as he starts the third annual Jail, Bail or Bribe fundraiser. The event runs through the weekend and the public can make a donation onsite, or online at jailbailbribe.com. (Photo courtesy HeroWork Victoria)

Even heroes sometimes go to jail, says Victoria radical reno firm boss

HeroWork’s Trevor Botkin invites public to come by Uptown and say hi, make a donation

HeroWork Victoria general manager Trevor Botkin gets strong-armed into his jail cell at Uptown in Saanich as he starts the third annual Jail, Bail or Bribe fundraiser. The event runs through the weekend and the public can make a donation onsite, or online at jailbailbribe.com. (Photo courtesy HeroWork Victoria)
A parcel of land on West Burnside Road near McKenzie Avenue has been donated by a resident to the District of Saanich. The municipality hopes to develop a bike park on one half of the land while keeping the other as parkland. (Courtesy District of Saanich)

Saanich gifted with nearly 2-acre treed property from longtime resident

Split of protected urban forest, bike skills park planned for land at McKenzie/Burnside

A parcel of land on West Burnside Road near McKenzie Avenue has been donated by a resident to the District of Saanich. The municipality hopes to develop a bike park on one half of the land while keeping the other as parkland. (Courtesy District of Saanich)
To continue supporting youth across BC, 11 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies are coming together to host The Big BC Lotto. Buy your tickets now for a chance to win half the jackpot in a classic 50/50 draw!

Lotto for a cause: Half for you, half for ‘Bigs’ and ‘Littles’ across BC!

The Big BC Lotto helps connect youth with caring mentors across the province

  • Apr 11, 2022
To continue supporting youth across BC, 11 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies are coming together to host The Big BC Lotto. Buy your tickets now for a chance to win half the jackpot in a classic 50/50 draw!
Lily Bowers with her Ukraine flag-style quilt, made to help raise funds to support those displaced by the conflict in Ukraine. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Sparwood woman raises over $2K for Ukraine with special handmade blanket

Lily Bowers donated $2,210 raised through ticket sales to the Red Cross

Lily Bowers with her Ukraine flag-style quilt, made to help raise funds to support those displaced by the conflict in Ukraine. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
Ukrainian members of the 2008-09 Canada World Youth exchange dress in their traditional clothing for an event in Port Alberni 13 years ago. (PHOTO COURTESY BEN SCHEIDEGGER)

Canada-Ukraine exchange students return to B.C. town to help and to remember

2008-09 Canada World Youth students spent three months in Ukraine and three months in Alberni

Ukrainian members of the 2008-09 Canada World Youth exchange dress in their traditional clothing for an event in Port Alberni 13 years ago. (PHOTO COURTESY BEN SCHEIDEGGER)
Sarah Beairsto (left), seven-year-old Harper Harvey and Debra Legge with boxes of Girl Guides cookies outside a warehouse in North Delta on Saturday, March 12. (Photo: Tom Zillich)

Girl Guides back to door-to-door cookie sales after 2 years of doing business differently

Chocolate/vanilla cookies sold in spring, and those who love the mint ones have to wait until fall

Sarah Beairsto (left), seven-year-old Harper Harvey and Debra Legge with boxes of Girl Guides cookies outside a warehouse in North Delta on Saturday, March 12. (Photo: Tom Zillich)
Cloth Castle owner Sylvia Ratcliffe and floor manager Natasha Cloutier show off the stack of donations bound for a children’s medical and trauma centre on the border between Poland and Ukraine. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Donations pile up in Langford business to help fleeing Ukrainians

Container filled with supplies heading to children’s medical centre in Poland

Cloth Castle owner Sylvia Ratcliffe and floor manager Natasha Cloutier show off the stack of donations bound for a children’s medical and trauma centre on the border between Poland and Ukraine. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
A naked bungy fundraiser raised more than $100,000 for Mental Health Recovery Partners this past weekend, March 5-6, at Nanaimo’s WildPlay Element Park. (Photo courtesy Kat Craats/WildPlay Element Parks)

Naked bungy Vancouver Island jumpers set fundraising record

More than $100,000 raised for Mental Health Recovery Partners

A naked bungy fundraiser raised more than $100,000 for Mental Health Recovery Partners this past weekend, March 5-6, at Nanaimo’s WildPlay Element Park. (Photo courtesy Kat Craats/WildPlay Element Parks)
Lily Bowers of Sparwood is creating a quilt made with Ukrainian flag colours to help raise funds to support refugees. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Sparwood local creates quilt for Ukraine

Any funds raised from the quilt’s sale will go towards helping refugees escaping the war in Ukraine

Lily Bowers of Sparwood is creating a quilt made with Ukrainian flag colours to help raise funds to support refugees. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
The Goldstream Food Bank received a large donation of feminine hygiene products and more than $6,500 in cash on Tuesday (March 8) thanks to a spur of the moment initiative by City of Langford staff and local businesspeople. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Goldstream Food Bank thrilled by spontaneous donation from Langford staff, others

More than $6,500 and much-needed feminine hygiene supplies donated on International Women’s Day

The Goldstream Food Bank received a large donation of feminine hygiene products and more than $6,500 in cash on Tuesday (March 8) thanks to a spur of the moment initiative by City of Langford staff and local businesspeople. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Longtime friends Annette Quan, Brenda Yanchuk, and Connie Scheurer ham it up during the 2020 Hike for Hospice. The trio has participated since 2013 in honour of a passed colleague. (Courtesy of Victoria Hospice)

Actively celebrate missed loved ones May 1 when Hike for Hospice returns to Victoria

Walk centred at Fisherman’s Wharf supports patients, families in hospice circle of care

Longtime friends Annette Quan, Brenda Yanchuk, and Connie Scheurer ham it up during the 2020 Hike for Hospice. The trio has participated since 2013 in honour of a passed colleague. (Courtesy of Victoria Hospice)