Last week, we told you about the Christmas events taking place in our community, and we didn’t even have room to include the fundraising campaigns and activities going on in the area, so we’re going to try again. So many people, organizations and businesses are doing great things for others.
I know it’s a busy, expensive time of year, but please remember that every little bit counts. Little donations add up to big ones when everyone contributes, and they can make a real difference in someone’s life this Christmas.
• The Ladysmith Resources Centre Association provides Christmas hampers to local families through its Christmas Cheer Fund. Registrations for a hamper take place Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 630 Second Ave. until Dec. 14. Any donations of non-perishable food items, new or near-new toys, books or games will be gratefully received at the Resources Centre Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Dec. 16. Donations can also be dropped off at Ladysmith InsuranceCentre, the RCMP Community Policing station, Curves and Ladysmith and District Credit Union.
• Each year, the Chronicle raises money for the Ladysmith Christmas Cheer Fund through its Pennies for Presents campaign, and this year, our goal is to raise $5,000. Please bring your donations to the Chamber of Commerce office at 411B First Ave. or the Chronicle office at 940 Oyster Bay Dr.
• The Coats for Kids program has a new drop-off and pick-up location at Ladysmith Duncan Plumbing and Heating at 810 Esplanade (across from Subway). Coats, hats, mittens and scarves can be dropped off there Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. or at the Ladysmith Resources Centre at 630 Second Ave.
• The Nanaimo Airport has launched a CAN-nection campaign to fill food bank shelves in Nanaimo, Parksville, Ladysmith, Duncan and Port Alberni with the support of area residents. This year’s theme is Stop Hunger in its Tracks. The Nanaimo Airport team has created a six-car train out of cans in the terminal and is hoping people will drop off cans to help finish the train. “When the train is finished there will be more than 4,000 cans of food,” says CEO and president Mike Hooper. “There is a donation bin for each community on the train, we will track the community donations by weight and allocate the train’s cans based on support. So the more a community gives, the more of the 4,000 their food bank will receive.”
• The Cowichan Valley Neighbourhood House in Chemainus is looking for people who can adopt a family for its annual Adopt a Family Christmas Hamper program. Sponsors are given a local family’s wish list with ages, genders and sizes of children and can then choose a gift from the ideas listed. The food hamper consists of breakfast and items for Christmas dinner, and sponsors can give a gift certificate to cover turkey and dairy products. The CNHA says many of the families who benefit from this program are low-income earners who have been rejected by other hamper providers, so without this program, they would not have gifts or a holiday meal to share with their family. If you would like to sponsor a family, contact CNHA at 250-246-3203 or cnhaoffice@shaw.ca.
• In Chemainus, The Pottery Store, The Golden Hanger, The Crafty Cuppa and The Wine Den are teaming up to create hampers for the Cowichan and District SPCA for the second straight year. From now until Dec. 16, donations of food, blankets, cleaning supplies or money are being accepted for needy animals at each store, and anyone who donates will be entered into the stores’ draws.
— Lindsay Chung
