Editor:
Dear Ladysmith community members: Last month I put out a plea to the community to help me gather necessities like food and clothing for a boy in need… little did I know that the communities of Ladysmith, Chemainus and Crofton would be so giving.
So much so, that the School District social worker and the principal of a local school asked me to perhaps sponsor a few more families that were in need too.
So we decided to sponsor three local families. The response was overwhelming.
For days I was picking up food, gift cards, clothing, and a few gifts for these families. In the end, we were actually able to help five families in total: one that couldn’t afford a Christmas turkey; another whose social worker said could use a little extra Christmas cheer (so we gave them a Chemainus Pizza certificate); and another three, who received boxes of food, turkey, clothing, gifts and gift cards.
A big thank you to everyone who contributed. Every single bit helped. And the businesses that so generously contributed.
Perhaps next time you are thinking of shopping locally, please give these businesses a thought, they really went above and beyond to make this happen.
Thanks for donations, including:
• $600 from Jeff Mosdell and his coworkers of Coast Capital savings;
• Penningtons Duncan employees for new clothing for a mama, food and gift card;
• Susan Doskocil of Chemainus Impulse Pizza for three gift certificates for each of the families for a full pizza family meal, delivery included (and no tip);
• Sandy Lowe-Dyer and Tom Hardman, my coworkers at Island Health for food, clothing and new gifts;
• Zade Cawley of Save On Foods Ladysmith for donating three turkeys, one for each of the families;
• Kendra Van Shaik, District social worker for Ladysmith Schools.
May you all be blessed this Christmas and know that all of you, who contributed what you could, collectively made Christmas a little brighter.
Sandra Smith
Ladysmith
