Community steps up to make Christmas brighter

Last week, 300 local residents who needed a helping hand got it. Each were warmed with Christmas dinner and had their pick of winter coats and warm clothes?collected largely by local realtors?to take home.

?We made sure that Santa Claus was here and came to the dinner and everybody really seemed to enjoy themselves,? said Major Brad Smith of the Salvation Army, whose Richmond branch brought Christmas early to low-income residents.

The Salvation Army is just one local charity making the holiday season a little brighter this year.

Smith believes the need in the community is greater this year.

?We have people that call us and they have some really sad situations that we try to help them out in to make sure they have a good Christmas,? he said.

The community has stepped up with donations, and Smith said he?s grateful to all who?ve offered their support.

As of last Saturday, the community donated $127,244 to the local branch?that?s $6,000 less than last year. Donations can still be made at Christmas Kettles around town until 4 p.m. Dec. 24. (Those who donate cheques will be issued a tax receipt.)

Donations of cheques and new toys are also accepted directly at the Salvation Army, 8280 Gilbert Rd.

All money goes toward a weekly community luncheon and goes to help people buy groceries throughout the year. It also goes toward the operation of a 10-bed shelter.

This year proved a busy one for Richmond Food Bank, which served an average of 500 households per week?a 60 per cent increase in three years.

But executive director Margaret Hewlett said the community has offered lots of support this season?through donations of cash, food and time.

Hewlett said there is growing awareness of the food bank and the needs that exist in the community. But there are still lots of opportunities for the community to help, detailed at richmondfoodbank.org.

?There opportunity to help is ongoing. We?re a year-round service and always open to donations and inquiries from potential volunteers,? she said.

Help this holiday season has also come from the Richmond Christmas Fund, which distributes grocery vouchers to over 2,000 low-income residents, and provides over 900 children with toys, games and books.

Co-ordinator Ryan Luetzen of Volunteer Richmond Information Services, which organizes the fund, said donations from individuals, businesses and community groups have totalled $125,000 this season.

The Richmond Auto Mall?s Windows of Hope is among the large fundraising campaigns for the Richmond Christmas Fund. The effort, in which teams of volunteers paint windows of car dealerships with a holiday theme, resulted in a $20,000 donation from the Richmond Auto Mall Association.

Another significant contribution came from the Richmond Christmas Fund Realtor Challenge, organized by Patti Martin and Shafik Ladha. With contributions from nine other local realtors, at least $10,000 has been raised so far.

Ashton Service Group contributed a further $5,000 to the fund and sponsored the program?s new online donation page.

And more than a dozen local businesses each contributed $500 as part of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce Member to Family Challenge.

At the fund?s first drive-thru event held Dec. 8 at the Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel, nearly $2,000 was donated, along with dozens of bags of toys and books.

Donations can still be made to the Christmas fund at www.volunteer richmond.ca.

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Source: http://www.richmondreview.com/community/136111058.html

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