It’s hard to describe your response to this year’s Times Colonist Christmas Fund, but I’ll try: Breathtaking. Inspiring. And above all, a fantastic reason to be proud of this community.
The fund reached $176,000 on Monday after being turbocharged by two weekend match challenges courtesy of Andrew Beckerman. Both times he offered to donate $500 if four other people donated that amount or more, and both times his challenge was answered in a couple of hours.
Our goal this year is $700,000. With that in mind, Beckerman says he will do another challenge today: When four people donate $500 or more, he will follow with another $500 donation. That will be his fifth challenge in this year’s drive.
Match challenges are great, because they help to prompt more donors to step forward, encouraged by the chance to boost the fund even more.
The largest challenge we have ever seen is still outstanding, but possibly not for much longer. The Victoria Foundation has offered to donate $10,000 if the same amount (or more) comes from someone else in the community.
We’ve heard rumours that the challenge will be met today, which will mean a $20,000 boost for the fund. And after that, I am sure we will have another challenge.
You can issue your own challenge, rather than waiting to match someone else’s. Just send an email to me and we’ll take it from there.
That $176,000 total is significant, and a reminder of the great need in our community this year. The pandemic has created a lot of hardship, and our Christmas Fund offers everyone a chance to offer a helping hand.
About 800 individual donations have already been received, and every one will certainly be appreciated. When the going gets tough, the good people of Greater Victoria respond.
It’s great to see, because giving to others reflects the true spirit of Christmas.
Some of the comments made by donors: “Every donation counts. If you have the means — give.” “I wish it could be more.” “There, but by the grace of God, go I.”
“COVID has given us extra time to reflect on the great inequities in our society. We are so fortunate to have so much; others are so much less fortunate and have so little. We are called to share.”
“We usually hold a Christmas party every year for friends. Since that’s out of the question this year, thought we help add cheer to strangers in need.”
“As a young child in Calgary from a large family, the fire department always made sure that there were presents for all my younger siblings. I wasn’t supposed to know about it but I did. It made for many happy memories and I hope my small donation will make a tough Christmas a little better for someone in our area.”
As I mentioned, the goal this year is $700,000. The more we raise this year, the more organizations we will be able to help. We have already given money to the Salvation Army and the Mustard Seed Street Church, and both organizations have put that money to work in the community.
The easiest way to give 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 wwColonist Christmas Fund, 201-655 Tyee Road, Victoria, B.C. 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.
