Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your Times Colonist Christmas Fund reached $479,800 Thursday, and it will help to make Christmas better for those less fortunate in our delivery area.
The pandemic has created more need than we have seen before in the fund’s 64 years. Every little bit helps.
All this month, 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.
We have several open matches, which will help to boost the value of your donations.
It’s time for retailers or property owners in the 500 block of Johnson Street to step up. Glen Lynch, of Baggins Shoes at 580 Johnson St., has donated $500 and promises to do it again if three others doing business on that block will donate at least $500.
Robinson’s Outdoor Store on Broad Street, owned by Gayle Robinson and her daughter Erin in partnership with Matt King, have donated $750 after promising to give the money if three other Victoria businesses gave that or more. Three other business owners donated $1,000 each, so it appears the match has been met.
Clarke Engineering and Welding Ltd., on Burns Avenue, has donated $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.
Sharon Warde donated $100 and challenged Greater Victoria real estate agents to also donate.
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 best way to donate directly is to go to timescolonist.com/donate. That will take you to the Canada Helps website, which is open 24 hours a day and provides an immediate tax receipt.
Or mail a cheque, payable to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund Society, to the Times Colonist 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
