charity

Ken Barkman at Save-On-Foods in Garrison Crossing on June 5, 2022. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)

78-year-old Ken Barkman of Chilliwack riding 3,000 kilometres for BC Children’s Hospital

Grandfather helping son and wife, who have adopted four high-risk babies

Ken Barkman at Save-On-Foods in Garrison Crossing on June 5, 2022. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)
The Victoria Horticultural Society is hosting its first major plant sale in years, May 14 at the Garth Homer Centre. (Facebook/Victoria Horticultural Society)

‘First big plant sale in many years’ coming to Saanich’s Garth Homer Centre

Victoria Horticultural Society members dig deep for May 14 fundraiser event

The Victoria Horticultural Society is hosting its first major plant sale in years, May 14 at the Garth Homer Centre. (Facebook/Victoria Horticultural Society)
The Porter family are flying around the world in a single-engine aircraft and aim to raise $1 million for SOS Children’s Villages. Left to right: Michelle Porter, Christopher Porter, Sydney Porter, Samantha Porter, Ian Porter. (Courtesy of Ian Porter)

B.C. family of 5 set to fly around the world over the next year – and raise $1M for charity

The Porters plan to take 14 months to see 50-plus countries and support SOS Children’s Villages

The Porter family are flying around the world in a single-engine aircraft and aim to raise $1 million for SOS Children’s Villages. Left to right: Michelle Porter, Christopher Porter, Sydney Porter, Samantha Porter, Ian Porter. (Courtesy of Ian Porter)
Jasmine Philips, marketing manager of WIN Resale Shop, stands at the front till at the Pandora Avenue location. The shop’s charitable gift card program distributed over $49,000 in 2021. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Changing needs, styles at non-profit Victoria clothing stores a sign of the times

Managers at WIN and Wear2Start see evolution in clientele, donations through pandemic

Jasmine Philips, marketing manager of WIN Resale Shop, stands at the front till at the Pandora Avenue location. The shop’s charitable gift card program distributed over $49,000 in 2021. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Hospital Way next to Victoria General Hospital was renamed Jeneece Place to mark the home’s fifth anniversary in 2017. Visionary of the home, Frankie Edroff holds up the new sign. (Courtesy of Jeneece Place)

Jeneece Place celebrates 10 years of offering Island families a ‘safe landing place’

Close to 3,000 families of chiildren receiving acute care housed since January 2012

Hospital Way next to Victoria General Hospital was renamed Jeneece Place to mark the home’s fifth anniversary in 2017. Visionary of the home, Frankie Edroff holds up the new sign. (Courtesy of Jeneece Place)
This home at SookePoint is one of eight grand prize options in the 2022 B.C. Children’s Hospital Lottery. (Contributed - B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation))

Sooke home grand prize option in B.C. Children’s Hospital lottery

SookePoint property comes with cash and vehicle

This home at SookePoint is one of eight grand prize options in the 2022 B.C. Children’s Hospital Lottery. (Contributed - B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation))
Lindsay Goulet snaps a photo of son Owen, 13, with Bruce Courtnall, left, and Geoff Courtnall during the Victoria launch event for the Courtnall Society of Mental Health. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Victoria’s Courtnall brothers launch society to fund grassroots mental health programs

Funding focuses on substance use, suicide prevention, community integration and children and youth

Lindsay Goulet snaps a photo of son Owen, 13, with Bruce Courtnall, left, and Geoff Courtnall during the Victoria launch event for the Courtnall Society of Mental Health. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
A 40-foot shipping container stuffed to the brim brings smiles to faces in a Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon after surviving a massive explosion in the Port of Beirut. (Compassionate Resource Warehouse/Facebook)

Miracle container, filled with supplies by Esquimalt charity, survives Beirut blast

Found 40-foot container provides Syrian refugees skills training, school

A 40-foot shipping container stuffed to the brim brings smiles to faces in a Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon after surviving a massive explosion in the Port of Beirut. (Compassionate Resource Warehouse/Facebook)
A percentage of the sales of Spinnakers soda will be donated to The Rotary Club of Oak Bay for the Threshold Housing Society. (Courtesy Rotary Club of Oak Bay)

Soda sales fund programs for youth at risk in Greater Victoria

Rotary Club of Oak Bay partners with Spinnakers Soda, holds 50/50 raffle benefiting 3 non-profits

A percentage of the sales of Spinnakers soda will be donated to The Rotary Club of Oak Bay for the Threshold Housing Society. (Courtesy Rotary Club of Oak Bay)
The Patch owner Christopher Shurety (right) and colleague Morgan (left) display some of their favourites of this year’s “ugly” Christmas sweater collection. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Victoria shop sources answers to the ugly holiday sweater dilemma

Despite pandemic challenges, The Patch on Yates continues its annual tradition

The Patch owner Christopher Shurety (right) and colleague Morgan (left) display some of their favourites of this year’s “ugly” Christmas sweater collection. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Leila Durzi, a board member of the Victoria Coats for Kids Association, shows off examples of winter coats that are in dire need for kids across the region. Cash and coat donations can be dropped at the guest services kiosk in Hillside Shopping Centre. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Leila Durzi, a board member of the Victoria Coats for Kids Association, shows off examples of winter coats that are in dire need for kids across the region. Cash and coat donations can be dropped at the guest services kiosk in Hillside Shopping Centre. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
The McTavish Academy of Art has created limited edition superhero art kits as part of this month’s Help Fill a Dream fundraiser. (Photo Courtesy of Help Fill a Dream)

Superheroes fundraiser for sick kids in Greater Victoria adds new ways to donate

Purchases of art kits, calendars and oils matched by doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation

The McTavish Academy of Art has created limited edition superhero art kits as part of this month’s Help Fill a Dream fundraiser. (Photo Courtesy of Help Fill a Dream)
Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, Nicholas Simons, and the parliamentary secretary for community development and non-profits, Niki Sharma, ring in the Salvation Army’s 131st kettle campaign on Thursday (Nov. 18) from the rear steps of the BC Legislature. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

VIDEO: Salvation Army, BC government ring in 131st kettle campaign in Victoria

Funds will go towards family services and flood relief in time of unprecedented demand

Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, Nicholas Simons, and the parliamentary secretary for community development and non-profits, Niki Sharma, ring in the Salvation Army’s 131st kettle campaign on Thursday (Nov. 18) from the rear steps of the BC Legislature. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
From left: Patricia Mamic, Michelle O'Connor, Margaret-Rose Richardson, and Sarah O'Connor are dedicated employees at the Victoria Citadel Salvation Army location in Saanich. They're excited for the expansion of their services that will allow for greater reach. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Salvation Army expands reach for family services around Greater Victoria

Charity organization adds programs for those in need in three communities

From left: Patricia Mamic, Michelle O'Connor, Margaret-Rose Richardson, and Sarah O'Connor are dedicated employees at the Victoria Citadel Salvation Army location in Saanich. They're excited for the expansion of their services that will allow for greater reach. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Boxes of chocolate and vanilla Girl Guide cookies are being sold in the annual charity fundraiser. (Girl Guides of Canada photo)

Anonymous donor buys more than $10K in cookies from Nanaimo girl guides

Troop will donate the cookies to a variety of community poverty assistance charities

Boxes of chocolate and vanilla Girl Guide cookies are being sold in the annual charity fundraiser. (Girl Guides of Canada photo)
Lois Ainey, parish administrator for St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, is part of a team delivering food to individuals who are homeless, food insecure or both twice a week to locations around Sidney, including here at Iroquois Park. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney church making edible connections with homeless population

St. Andrew’s Anglican launches Friends of St. Andrew food program

Lois Ainey, parish administrator for St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, is part of a team delivering food to individuals who are homeless, food insecure or both twice a week to locations around Sidney, including here at Iroquois Park. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Surgeons work on a patient in West Africa. (KBNF)

B.C. nurse fights to bring ‘top notch’ supplies, neurosurgery facilities to West Africa

Korle-Bu Neuroscience Foundation trains surgeons, brings supplies where they’re needed most

Surgeons work on a patient in West Africa. (KBNF)
Oak Bay resident Jude Somers won the 2020 People’s Choice Award for her creation The Santa Train during the 12th annual showcase. (Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity)

Gingerbread fundraiser calls on Greater Victoria creators to envision a Future of Home

Habitat for Humanity Victoria’s biggest annual fundraiser is looking for bakers

Oak Bay resident Jude Somers won the 2020 People’s Choice Award for her creation The Santa Train during the 12th annual showcase. (Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity)
During Smile Cookie Week, delicious chocolate chunk Smile Cookies are available at all Tim Hortons restaurants for $1 each and 23 locations across Greater Victoria will donate full proceeds to the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Cookie campaign aims to keep Greater Victoria kids smiling during difficult times

Smile Cookies are $1 this week with proceeds going to Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island

During Smile Cookie Week, delicious chocolate chunk Smile Cookies are available at all Tim Hortons restaurants for $1 each and 23 locations across Greater Victoria will donate full proceeds to the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Siblings Trevor McCall and Stacy Lund learned more about the charitable landscape in the region through the Victoria Foundation’s Gadsden Initiative that targets Millenials and Generation X. (Courtesy Victoria Foundation)

Greater Victoria siblings promote program designed to grow philanthropy among Millennials, GenX

Victoria Foundation’s Gadsden Initiative engages new generations

Siblings Trevor McCall and Stacy Lund learned more about the charitable landscape in the region through the Victoria Foundation’s Gadsden Initiative that targets Millenials and Generation X. (Courtesy Victoria Foundation)