Your ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Christmas Fund reached $456,800 Wednesday, 65 per cent of the way to the goal of $700,000 by Christmas Day.
The money raised is used to make Christmas a bit better for those less fortunate in our delivery area.
Donations in the past day ranged from $25 to $5,000, but remember: Everything helps, and the more that is donated, the more help we can give to people in need.
Remember that the three Bottle Depot locations in Victoria and Saanich — on Queens Avenue, Quadra Street and Glanford Avenue — will donate half the value of the cans and bottles placed in the dedicated charity bins to the Christmas Fund. The other half will go to CFAX Santas Anonymous.
And a reminder that we have several open matches, which will help to boost the value of your donations.
Robinson’s Outdoor Store on Broad Street, owned by Gayle Robinson and her daughter Erin in partnership with Matt King, will donate $750 if three other Victoria businesses give that or more. We still have two donations to go.
Glen Lynch, of Baggins Shoes at 580 Johnson St., has donated $500 and if three other retailers or property owners in the 500 block of Johnson match it, he will donate another $500.
Sharon Warde donated $100 and challenged Greater Victoria real estate agents to also donate.
Clarke Engineering and Welding Ltd., on Burns Avenue, is donating $500 and is challenging other businesses to match.
Brenda Edwards of Saanich donated $300, and said her family challenges other families of firefighters, police, nurses and front-line retail staff to match or beat the donation.
Carey Johannesson and Jan Clark donated $500 and are challenging other readers to match them.
Jennifer Waelti-Walters, who donated $100 in November, says she will donate again this month if 10 other people who donated in November donate in December as well.
The pandemic has created more need than we have seen before in the fund’s 64 years. Every little bit helps.
The best way to donate directly is to go to . That will take you to the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Helps website, which is open 24 hours a day and provides an immediate tax receipt.
Or mail a cheque, payable to the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Christmas Fund Society, to the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Christmas Fund, 201-655 Tyee Road, Victoria V9A 6X5.
Or use your credit card by phoning 250-995-4438 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. Outside those hours, messages will be accepted.
Dave Obee
Editor and Publisher
