Wayne Price has been opening doors in Greater Victoria for more than 50 years.
He has also been opening his heart — and his wallet — to help the less fortunate, including through a donation the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Christmas Fund.
“It’s one of those times of year, you start thinking about people having a tougher time than we are,” said Price, owner of Price’s Lock & Safe.
“We’ve been so fortunate this year. We’ve been very busy this year and a lot of people are struggling. It breaks my heart when I go downtown.”
Price and his daughter Michelle Griffis, who is part-owner of the company, have donated $20,000 to the Christmas fund to show their gratitude to the community and to make lives better for others.
“We feel so terrible for anyone who has really struggled. We feel we have to pass it along,” said Griffis. “It’s our duty to do that. We see it every day. We see the struggles. We want to get this economy going a little better and make people feel a little better, a little happier.”
Price, 76, is throwing down a challenge to other lock shops to match his company’s donation.
“We’ll match anything they can donate,” he said.
Prices Lock & Safe has 35 employees and six offices from Victoria to Campbell River. Because it’a profit-sharing company, Price said all the staff are involved in the $20,000 donation.
The company was founded in 1895 by his grandfather Albert Edward Price. As a youngster, Price started working for the family firm in Grade 6 to earn his allowance. Although he went to university, he dropped out at age 23 because he loved the family business.
And he loves giving back to the community and thanking them for their support.
The ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Christmas Fund supports 20 organizations in Greater Victoria, the Gulf Islands and as far north as Campbell River. This year, the fund has donated to the Salvation Army, the Mustard Seed Street Church, Our Place, the Victoria Women’s Transition House, Nourish Cowichan and the 1 UP Victoria Single Parent Resource Centre.
HOW TO DONATE
You can donate by going to the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Christmas Fund fundraising page at .
The site is open 24 hours a day and provides an immediate tax receipt.
Or mail a cheque to the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Christmas Fund, 201-655 Tyee Road, Victoria, ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ V9A 6X5.
You can also use your credit card by phoning 250-995-4438 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
