Local volunteers, including Langford Fire Chief Bob Beckett, are appealing for donations for their upcoming trip to help an orphanage in Haiti.
Following a devastating earthquake in 2010, Beckett and a team of volunteers travelled to Haiti on numerous occasions to rebuild the Baby Jesus of Prague orphanage in Port-au-Prince.
Support came from the City of Langford, the Colwood Rotary Club and many generous citizens from Vancouver Island.
Their work caught the attention of the UN police peacekeepers, who suggested they visit the Divine Hands Orphanage. The facility was days away from having to close its doors — which would have put 52 children on the street.
With a small grant from Rotary and other donors, they were able to complete some short-term projects in 2014.
This time, they hope to accomplish six goals for the orphanage:
• Purchase a gas-powered generator to supplement the sporadic municipal power supply.
• Build a chicken coop that would provide food for the orphanage, as well as some income from the sale of excess eggs to the neighbourhood.
• Purchase a motorized scooter/wheelchair for a 10-year-old double amputee to make it easier for him to go to school.
• Look at suitable land to build on or find a building to refurbish to house the orphanage.
• Deliver hundreds of donated sports jerseys to the YMCA of Port-au-Prince.
• Purchase food for the orphanage’s food stores.
Any donation, large or small, will go a long way in helping to support the children. Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $25 or more.
Donations can be made online at helpforhaiti.ca or in person at Langford Fire Department. Please make cheques payable to the Rotary Club of Westshore Sunrise. For more information, call Bruce Brown at 250-888-7062 or [email protected].
Groups pull together for refugee family
The lives of a group of compassionate Esquimalt residents, a vibrant group of Punjabi women and a small Syrian family living on the streets in Turkey came together recently.
Last month, a community meeting at Esquimalt United Church brought together 80 residents interested in sponsoring a refugee family.
This month, the Inter-Cultural Association identified a Syrian family in desperate need — a couple and their two year-old son. Suddenly, the picture of a Syrian family for Esquimalt became real.
Parminder Virk and her team, the Victoria Dian Punjabana Group (Punjabi women of Victoria) had just put on a dinner to celebrate the festival of Lohri.
Although it has no religious significance, the festival holds great social significance for people from the Punjab region of South Asia. It is celebrated as a day of imparting love and compassion. It is meant to relieve people’s worldly, day-to-day routines and help them to be relaxed, cheerful and happy — a time to forget all past differences and grievances.
The event, held at North Douglas Hall last Wednesday, was attended by more than 300 women and children, who enjoyed food, listened to Lohri songs and exchanged gifts.
In the true spirit of Lohri, the group decided to donate the proceeds of the event, more than $1,000, to the Esquimalt Refugee Family group, with the possibility of holding a future dinner.
Virk and her group had heard of the efforts to bring a Syrian refugee family to Esquimalt when they were cooking lunch for 130 needy people at the Victoria Rainbow Kitchen, housed at Esquimalt United Church.
“It’s amazing how this spirit of caring links us all together,” said Philippa Catling, one of the founders of the Esquimalt Refugee Family group.
For more information on the Esquimalt Refugee Family group, go to facebook.com/esquimaltrefugeefamily.
For information on the Victoria Dian Punjabana Group or to get involved, contact Parminder Virk at 250-475-4936 or email [email protected].
Beloved dog retires after 10 years at hospital
The promise of long walks, a treat or two, a belly rub and more time in front of a fire is coming soon to a hard-working and loved companion at Aberdeen Hospital, who retires Monday.
Rowan is a female golden retriever who has helped the extended-care hospital’s residents for more than 10 years.
Recently, she became part of Animal Assisted Therapy, which encouraged people to meet their physical-therapy goals. The program was introduced as a pilot project at the hospital in 2012. It proved to be effective and has been adopted by other Island Health sites across the capital region.
The program is funded by the Eldercare Foundation with the help of many local sponsors, including Thrifty Foods, which recently donated $10,000.
Rowan, her handlers, patients and staff will be on hand for her special retirement party, which runs 1:30 to 3 p.m. Monday at Aberdeen Hospital, 1450 Hillside Ave.
For more information, go to gvef.org or viha.ca.
Gingerbread houses raise record total for Habitat
The seventh annual Canada’s National Gingerbread Showcase, held at the Inn at Laurel Point last month, raised a record $44,000 for Habitat for Humanity, bringing the seven-year total to more than $128,000.
A creation called the Rainbow Connection by Anne-Marie Fortin (of There Will Be Cake) from the Victoria Residential Builders Association won the People’s Choice Award. More than 9,800 votes were cast during the showcase.
“We are both thrilled and humbled by the overwhelming support both Victorians and visitors continue to provide for this event,” said Ian Powell, managing director of the hotel. “We look forward to seeing Habitat for Humanity Victoria receive funds, and hope this event will continue to grow and support deserving families in the community.”
Funds raised support Habitat for Humanity Victoria and its efforts to make affordable home ownership possible for low-income families in the Victoria region.
Images of the entries from Canada’s National Gingerbread Showcase are available at laurelpoint.com/christmas-1/ 2015-gingerbread-showcase.htm.
For more information, go to habitat.ca.
Donors fund overhead lifts for Broadmead lodge
Caregivers and residents of the newly named Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead will soon start the day stress- and injury-free thanks to new overhead lifts to be installed in the ceiling of each room.
The cost of supplying and installing the lifts, at $5,300 each, will be covered by the proceeds of a fundraising campaign spearheaded by benefactor Rudi Hoenson. Hoenson had launched a matching-gift challenge for the home’s Overhead Lift Campaign to mark the end of the Second World War. Many of the home’s residents are veterans with disabilities who require assistance.
He initially challenged the community, saying he would match any donation up to $200,000. When it became apparent the limit was going to be reached sooner than expected, he threw in another $50,000. By the end of the campaign, the fund was over the $500,000 mark.
“We are so thankful for the generous community and business support received to help us reach our goal with the matching campaign,” said David Cheperdak, CEO of Broadmead Care. “The incredible success of this campaign would not have been possible if not for the unwavering support of Rudi. Thanks to Rudi and the generosity of our community, we will have an overhead lift installed in every resident room at the Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead by March 2016.”
For more information, go to broadmeadcare.com.
Christmas cheer comes with meal from Empress
Heartwarming stories of generosity over Christmas keep trickling in. The latest involves the staff at The Empress hotel.
In December, Mike Pagnacco, a chef at the Empress, offered a Christmas dinner for one of the families housed by the Cridge Centre for the Family.
The Cridge asked him if he would be willing to provide a meal for the Transition House for Women. He readily agreed to provide a full meal for the women, their children and staff — a total of about 20 people.
When the Empress staff showed up with the meal, they also brought gifts for the children.
“We would love to give a big shout-out to this team of amazing people who made such an incredible gift to women and children who were facing a very difficult Christmas,” said Joanne Specht, Cridge manager of communication.
The meal was paid for by the staff, and the Empress facilitated the meal preparation. For more information, go to cridge.org.
