For Langley businesses, giving isn’t always about making that monetary donations. Heading into the new year, I’d like to spotlight a few that engage their staff and customers in some community outreach effort.
First up, kudos to Dr. Wai Sze Cheung and the team at the Willougby Crossing Dental Centre.
In the case of the local dentist’s office, they started what Cheung hope will become an annual – if not more frequent – tradition.
Earlier this month they offered free dentistry for about a dozen clients of the local women’s shelter – Ishtar Transition Housing Society.
“As a practice owner, I now have the ability to give back to the community in ways that weren’t possible before,” Cheung said.
“We opened our office doors to those coming from a local women’s shelter, and provided free dental work to women and children in need. It was a busy, hectic and emotional day – and I’m so glad that we did it,” she said.
“We were delighted to get eight women and five children into the dental clinic for free services,” said Ishtar’s Andrea Thompson.
“Given how inaccessible dentistry services are, this was an excellent opportunity for women and children who wouldn’t otherwise have been able to access the dental care,” she said, describing it as an early Christmas present.
On a day the centre is usually closed, the entire team donated their time and provided much needed cleanings, fillings, and even tooth extractions for adults and kids alike.
“While we don’t have another free dentistry day arranged with them yet, they did express an interest in organizing another one,” said Thompson.
In the meantime, Cheung was quick to share the credit for making the day possible, noting that her staff volunteered their time and skill to make it happen.
“Couldn’t have done it without you,” she said, not only of her staff, but she also noted that a larger supplier (Patterson Dental) donated to the cause.
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Helping others
For the second year running, Dana Matheson and his team at C & D Logisitcs ran a Pound for Pound food drive, with some amazing results.
“This crew is something else,” Matheson said. “They are dedicated hardworking and passionate about giving back to our community.”
Staff, customers, community members, and friends pitched in and donated food for the Langley Food Bank, and with C&D matching pound for pound, they were able to fill and deliver a five-ton full (a total of six pallets) of non-perishable food for families in need.
Pretty amazing, and this is on top of a toy drive they also do each year.
“The total weight of the donation was 1,486 pounds donated. Next year our goal is 3,000 lbs of food,” Matheson said. “We would like to thank everyone that donated to this worthy cause and we appreciate it, hopefully it helps some local families this Christmas.”
