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Through the roof: He’s donated $5,000 a year for 13 years to the Christmas Fund

For the past 13 years, Wayne Massey has contributed $5,000 annually to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund through his company, Advanced Products Roofing.
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Wayne Massey has donated $5,000 this year through his roofing company to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund.

For the past 13 years, Wayne Massey has contributed $5,000 annually to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund through his company, Advanced Products Roofing.

“The company was doing well and I had a lot of good customers, and I was able to do it,” said Massey, whose contribution has totalled $65,000 over the years.

Advanced Products Roofing has been involved in a number of prominent projects, including Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.

This year, he is retiring and is shutting down the company. But he said he will continue to donate, although in a more modest way.

Massey said his dedication to the Christmas Fund stems from how he was raised in Ottawa.

“My parents always made sure that we had a good Christmas,” Massey said. “My mother worked two jobs, my father worked three.

“But they always made sure that we had things on our birthday and Christmas.”

While the rest of the year might have been tough, “at those times, we were always taken care of.”

“And I just thought going forward, when I could do it, I would help out,” he said. “I just think it’s a time when everybody should have a little bit.”

The Christmas Fund has been around since 1956, when it was known as the 500 Fund because its goal was to raise money for 500 of the region’s most needy families. It went on to become the 1000 Fund in 1980 and then the Christmas Fund in 2000.

Last year, more than $308,000 was donated.

The Salvation Army and Mustard Seed Street Church take care of the distribution of hampers and gift certificates, while the Mustard Seed, with the fund’s support, hosts an annual Christmas dinner at the Bay Street Armoury that attracts more than 1,000 people.

Our Place enjoys support from the Christmas Fund, as well.

jwbell@timescolonist.com

How to donate

Please donate to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund. The fund assists individuals and families in need during the Christmas season. Here are ways to donate:

• Go to timescolonist.com/donate. That takes you to the Canada Helps website, which is open 24 hours a day and provides an immediate tax receipt.

• Mail a cheque, payable to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund Society, to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, 2621 Douglas St., Victoria V8T 4M2.

• Use your credit card by phoning 250-995-4438 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. Outside those hours, leave a message, we’ll call back.