Charity and Donations

Alberni Valley Bulldogs’ forward Ethan Bono tangles up Penticton Vees defenceman Gabriel Guilbault at the end boards during the second period of the Bulldogs’ BC Hockey League home game on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (KAICEE TROTT/ Special to the AV News)

BCHL: Alberni Valley Bulldogs can’t crack undefeated Vees

Teddy Bear Toss coming up on Dec. 2

Alberni Valley Bulldogs’ forward Ethan Bono tangles up Penticton Vees defenceman Gabriel Guilbault at the end boards during the second period of the Bulldogs’ BC Hockey League home game on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (KAICEE TROTT/ Special to the AV News)
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)
Organizers of the Pat Docherty Memorial golf tournament present $103,000 to the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation. On hand for the cheque presentation are Wes Zannet, left, and Don Slaughter, event organizers; Damian Lange, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital interim executive director of clinical operations; Jennie Robson, NRGH interim site director; and Barney Ellis-Perry, Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation CEO. (Photo submitted)

Charity golf tournament organizers raise $100,000 for Nanaimo hospital foundation

Pat Docherty Memorial Tournament has raised $240,000 for NRGH the past three years

Organizers of the Pat Docherty Memorial golf tournament present $103,000 to the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation. On hand for the cheque presentation are Wes Zannet, left, and Don Slaughter, event organizers; Damian Lange, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital interim executive director of clinical operations; Jennie Robson, NRGH interim site director; and Barney Ellis-Perry, Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation CEO. (Photo submitted)
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)
Fred Penner brought audience members to their feet with his performance at the Comox Valley Child Development Association Telethon on Nov. 6. Photo by Terry Farrell

Kids telethon unfolds with resounding success in the Comox Valley

Comox Valley Child Development Association fundraiser nets third highest total in 47-year history

Fred Penner brought audience members to their feet with his performance at the Comox Valley Child Development Association Telethon on Nov. 6. Photo by Terry Farrell
Adrianna Golinsky, preps to set out across Westwood Lake. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

Witches trade brooms for paddles at Halloween-themed charity event in Nanaimo

Westwood Lake Witch Paddle benefits Loaves and Fishes food bank and Nanaimo Foodshare

Adrianna Golinsky, preps to set out across Westwood Lake. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)
(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)
Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock rider Aaron Grewal, a constable with Saanich Police Department, gets his hair and beard shaved by his wife Kayla Larsson during a tour stop at the old Nanaimo train station on Sunday, Oct. 2. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

Tour de Rock riders cycle and sweat for a good cause

Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock reaches Nanaimo

Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock rider Aaron Grewal, a constable with Saanich Police Department, gets his hair and beard shaved by his wife Kayla Larsson during a tour stop at the old Nanaimo train station on Sunday, Oct. 2. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)
Amie Armet, a volunteer with Mamas for Mamas, hopes to have a super selection of costumes for kids this Halloween. A costume donation drive has been organized with drop-off bins at Vancouver Island Regional Library branches. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

‘Mamas for Mamas’ non-profit collecting Halloween costumes for children in need

Donations currently being accepted at all of VIRL’s library branches in Nanaimo

Amie Armet, a volunteer with Mamas for Mamas, hopes to have a super selection of costumes for kids this Halloween. A costume donation drive has been organized with drop-off bins at Vancouver Island Regional Library branches. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Tom Wall and his daughter Emma have been riding in the Port Alberni Toy Run together since Emma was five years old. They will take Wall’s Spyder on the 2022 run, Sept. 17. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Longtime volunteer Tom Wall ‘lives and breathes’ Port Alberni Toy Run

Annual motorcycle event kicks off at noon Saturday, Sept. 17 at Little Qualicum Falls

Tom Wall and his daughter Emma have been riding in the Port Alberni Toy Run together since Emma was five years old. They will take Wall’s Spyder on the 2022 run, Sept. 17. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Amy Worth with the Nanaimo Youth Services Association demonstrates how participants will sleep during the organization’s ‘Roughing It’ event at Harewood Centennial Park on Sept. 23. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo event challenges people to sleep rough to draw attention to youth homelessness

‘Roughing It’ outdoor overnight event to be held at Harewood Centennial Park Sept. 23-24

Amy Worth with the Nanaimo Youth Services Association demonstrates how participants will sleep during the organization’s ‘Roughing It’ event at Harewood Centennial Park on Sept. 23. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)
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

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)
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

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)
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

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