In what has been described as a win-win situation for all parties, the Hotel Grand Pacific recently donated furniture and §xtures from 120 rooms to the Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore.
The local hotel, which is undergoing a $5-million renovation, had the contents of five floors of its rooms to dispose of. The furniture found in a guest room typically consists of beds, an armoire, desk, chair, luggage bench, easy chairs, a reading lamp, draperies, sofa beds, bedside lamps and wall sconces.
A liquidator typically scoops up the best-selling items — the easy chairs, desk and armoire, with the hotel sometimes having to take unwanted items to the garbage dump.
But this time the liquidator could not take all the items, creating an opportunity for the ReStore.
“It was a win-win situation for everyone involved,” said Reid James, the general manager of the hotel. “The items are condo-sized, so they should prove popular for people looking to out§t their homes on a budget. We estimate that the ReStore can resell the items for about $30,000.”
Easy chairs will go for $85, with armoires, which cost $1,000 new, according to James, going out the door for only $125.
This was not the §rst time the hotel, one of the largest in the city, has supported Habitat for Humanity. Last year, it also donated furniture when it renovated other guest rooms.
The items can be viewed at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 3311 Oak St.
For more information, go to habitatvictoria.com/restore.
Fundraiser serves up $65,000 for YES
The recent Souper Bowls of Hope, a fundraiser for the Victoria Youth Empowerment Society (YES), attracted more than 350 people to have a bowl of nutritious soup and go home with a one-of-a-kind bowl made by members of the South Vancouver Island Potters Guild and schoolchildren from more than 15 area schools.
The event, which took place at the Inn at Laurel Point, raised more than $65,000 for YES, which provides support and services for vulnerable youth and their families.
For more information, go to vyes.ca.
Fruity art raising funds for Mustard Seed
The Red Art Gallery is hoping to turn art into reality and raise $2,500 for the Mustard Seed Food Bank with its Tutti Fruity — What a Beauty! fundraiser.
The gallery has commissioned award-winning artist Marion Evamy to create 20 one-of-a-kind, hand-painted apples and pears.
The colourful works of art are being sold for $125 each, with proceeds donated to the Mustard Seed to secure fresh fruit for the local food bank.
In the past five years, the gallery has raised more than $18,000 for numerous charities, including Victoria Women’s Transition House, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Garth Homer Society, Our Place and others.
The apples and pears are available at the gallery, 2249 Oak Bay Ave. For more information, go to redartgallery.ca.
Yoga scholarship honours daughter’s memory
A local family has initiated the Breathe Fore Life Scholarship in the memory of their daughter. The $1,000 gift will be awarded to a yoga teacher committed to helping people heal.
Applications for the scholarship is meant to encourage therapeutic yoga practices for those dealing with mental illness or trauma. Deadline for applications is Dec. 15.
The recipient will be announced at the 2016 Victoria Yoga Conference in February. For more information and an application form, go to victoriayogaconference.com.
Foundation launches plan to encourage organ donors
Last week, the David Foster Foundation launched a pilot project in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of organ- donor registration among youth.
In 2012, just over 2,000 of 4,500 patients waiting for an organ transplant received the life-saving operation. During that time, more than 250 people died waiting. Currently, 85 per cent of Canadians feel that organ donation is beneficial — but less than 20 per cent are registered as donors.
The foundation teamed up with Claremont Secondary School to give a presentation to encourage young people to have a conversation with their families about the importance of organ donation.
The foundation financially supports the non-medical expenses for families whose children are undergoing major organ transplants.
For more information, go to davidfosterfoundation.com.
Santa photos raise funds for animal rescue
Take your pet to have a picture taken with Santa today — with proceeds to bene§t Broken Promises Rescue.
Pictures are $15 and can be downloaded, emailed or made into cards. The event runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Bosley’s pet food store, 104-4478 West Saanich Rd. and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Westshore Mall location, 147-2955 Phipps Rd.
For more information, go to brokenpromisesrescue.com.
School seeks donations for Holiday Emporium
L’Ecole George Jay, Victoria’s downtown elementary school, is looking for donations of new or gently used household goods for their annual Holiday Emporium.
The event, featuring items for $1, is an opportunity for children from families in need to purchase gifts for members of their family.
In its 10th year, organizers constantly see how the event makes a real difference in the lives of the families — many of whom can’t afford to shop during the holidays.
New or lightly used good-quality items could include candles, toys, ties, jewelry, picture frames, CDs, DVDs, books, puzzles, purses, wallets, scarves, tools, household goods, bath and beauty items — and they always need gifts suitable for dads.
Items should be clean and not broken, as children are shopping for their families.
Organizers are also seeking donations of wrapping materials, ribbons, small boxes, bubble wrap, tape and tissue paper.
Students can buy up to four presents for $1 each, with all proceeds going directly back to the school to help sponsor §eld trips and cultural events.
Items that clearly should be sold at a higher price are available at the end of the school day to parents so they can also come and shop for their families.
Donations are accepted Dec. 1 to 16 at the school, 1118 Princess Ave. (near Cook and Bay streets). Emporium Day runs 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 17.
To donate or for more information, go to georgejaypac.com or email [email protected].
Giving Tuesday a chance to help others
If you are tired of the need to buy, buy, buy after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, perhaps it is time to consider giving back to the community on Giving Tuesday, sponsored by the Victoria Foundation.
The global day of giving is meant to be a time to celebrate and encourage activities that support charities and non-pro§t organizations. People can donate or volunteer their time.
The Giving Tuesday website shows more than 68 local businesses and organizations participating in this year’s celebration. Examples include: Greater Victoria Art Gallery admission by donation all day; Aids Vancouver Island will be holding a Free Hugs Flash Mob downtown; Our Place will be matching donations (via generous supporter Andrew Beckerman) up to $2,000; Society for Kids at Tennis will be running free tennis classes for §nancially disadvantaged kids from two elementary schools and a community centre; VIATEC is once again running their Food Bank Challenge — challenging participants to post an image of them collecting donations on social media.
For more information, go to victoriafoundation.bc.ca/blog/ givingtuesday2015.
Schools take to streets to aid food banks
On Wednesday, three secondary schools will join forces to collect food for the annual 10,000 Tonight.
Students and volunteers from Belmont, Royal Bay and Edward Milne Community School will be going door-to-door in their communities (Royal Bay students will cover the Colwood area, Belmont students will take the Langford area and Edward Milne the Sooke region.
Each school hopes to collect 10,000, or more, non-perishable food items in a single evening for local food banks.
The event runs 5 to 9 p.m. The food will then be tallied and sorted in the school gym before being dropped off at local food banks. The event is written about on Facebook.
Lincoln dealer raises $10,000 for Haven Society
The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board and Steve Marshall Ford Lincoln recently presented a cheque for $10,000 to Nanaimo’s Haven Society.
The funds were raised thanks to the Lincoln Motor Company’s innovative Driven to Give program, which awarded $50 for every test drive taken on the day of the event, to a maximum of $10,000. The event was held on Sep. 24 in Nanaimo.
Despite cloudy and rainy weather, more than 200 Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Realtor members came to test drive a Lincoln during the event.
The dealership had initiated several fundraising events since adopting the program, but this was the most successful to date.
“We believe in getting into the community and making a difference. This event was an amazing opportunity to do just that,” said Ann Marie Clark, dealer principal. “We’re extremely thankful to VIREB and Haven Society for helping make this event our most successful ever.”
Haven Society is a dedicated Nanaimo-based organization offering sanctuary to women, children, and families §eeing domestic violence and abuse.
For more information, go to havensociety.com.
Military police aid blind children, young adults
Members of the Military Police Unit Esquimalt, on behalf of the Military Police Fund for Blind Children, presented a visually impaired child with much-needed computer equipment last week.
The fund was founded in 1957 by Col. James Riley Stone, the Canadian Army provost marshal, and is run and managed by military police volunteers.
It aids blind children and young adults (up to 21). It also supports charitable organizations and individuals involved in the education and recreation of blind children and young adults.
For more information, go to mpfbc.com.
Share a bear,bring a smile to a child
The twin teddy bears are back for the annual Share-a-Bear campaign in B.C. Liquor Stores throughout the province.
From now until Christmas, customers can purchase a set of twin pandas for $12.50, with one of the twins shared with a local community charity.
Each year, B.C. Liquor Store employees select charities in their communities that help families in need — from children’s hospitals to shelters. Customers can also participate in a free draw for a giant panda bear (56 centimetres tall). Each store will have two giant panda bears up for grabs.
The stores donated more than 23,000 bears last Christmas season.
For more information, go to bcliquorstores.com.