24 Nov Thank You For Helping Us Surpass 1000 “Likes” on Facebook!
Did you know Victoria BC Lawyers, Sitka Law Group has a Facebook page?! For those of you who did not know, we are active on social media and use this platform to share general information regarding topics we find are relevant to our followers and to highlight local businesses and charities as part of our “Sitka Supports Local” campaign.
In celebration of reaching 1000 likes, we chose to support a charity of our followers’ choice. We asked those who like our page to name a charity that they would like to see receive a donation as we hoped this would create awareness and exposure for various charities that many of us were not previously familiar with. Several great charities were mentioned including, but not limited to, the Stigma-Free Society, the Single Parent Resource Centre, Community Living Victoria, Our Place Society, Threshold Housing Society and Wear 2 Start. We randomly chose five charities and entered them into a poll – the charity mentioned the most number of times would receive the donation. The five charities entered into the poll included The Full Cupboard, Soap for Hope, Victoria Humane Society, Cycle of Life Tour and Homefulness at Woodwyn Farms. Here is what we learned about each charity:
Soap For Hope is a program of Disaster Aid Canada, based out of Victoria, BC. They collect gently used or unused soap and hygiene products from the hotel and accommodation industry that would otherwise be discarded. Their volunteers reprocess these items to redistribute to those in need. Soap and shampoo are also used in international projects and disaster situations in our Disaster Aid Relief Kits. In doing so, the program is not only diverting hundreds of thousands of plastic bottles from landfills but also fulfilling a local and international need for hygiene products. Soap for Hope also collects all hygiene amenities, linens, tissue products and lost & found items and fundraisers to purchase hard to get hygiene products like razors, toothbrushes and deodorant. Individuals can get involved by donating, volunteering, following them on Facebook or attending their events! Please visit their Facebook page at Soap For Hope.
The Cycle of Life Tour is a two-day charity group ride in support of Hospice Care on Vancouver Island. Founded in Victoria, BC in 2011 by local massage therapist, Graham Robertson, it has grown into an event that raised over $120,000 last year for hospice care all over Vancouver Island! To date, the Cycle of Life Tour has raised nearly $500,000 and continues to grow and gain support from the community. Hospice care provides end-of-life (palliative) care for those with terminal conditions. Please check out the Cycle of Life Tour Facebook page for more information and possibly join in on a future ride.
Homefulness at Woodwynn Farms is a therapeutic community providing a tangible alternative to homelessness brought on by addiction. Their participants commit to a year of living and working full time on a 193-acre farm. While on the farm, participants are provided with accommodation, organic homegrown meals, access to support and counselling, opportunities for skills training and discovery of self-potential. Woodwynn Farms is modeled after San Patrignano in Italy, where the success rate for participants is 72% (Sobriety and self-reliance). Complimenting the therapeutic program is a strong focus on traditional, spray free farming practices including raising ethically raised, non GMO, hormone and anti-biotic free meats and eggs. Profits generated from the sale of farm-produced foods in our Farm Market go directly to support the mission of the Creating Homefulness Society. Please check out the Homefulness at Woodwynn Farms Facebook page for more information.
The Victoria Humane Society was founded in 2013 and since then they have rescued and re-homed over 3,000 animals. They provide necessary medical care including surgeries and other lifesaving treatments for animals to assist in getting them to their forever home. Working with and honoring their volunteers, one of their goals is to educate the community with an understanding of responsible pet ownership, animal neglect, abuse and over population. The number one priority right now for the Victoria Humane Society is working toward opening a shelter where homeless animals can be housed while waiting for a foster or forever home. Currently they rely on their network of over 300 volunteers and 100 foster homes to rescue animals for the Greater Victoria region. Visit the Victoria Humane Society on Facebook for more information.
The Full Cupboard is part of Island Savings’ GIFT (Growing Island Families Together) program for at-risk youth and supports community organizations offering programs and services to help kids build self-confidence, resilience, and engagement in the community. Specifically, the Full Cupboard aims to ensure that no Island child goes hungry. The Full Cupboard raises funds to try to serve the equivalent of 650,000 meals to Islanders through local food banks! Part of their program includes being able to donate to an unspecified partner food bank on a quarterly basis. Food Banks BC lets the Full Cupboard know which of the food banks received the least amount of donations so they can divide funds equitably ensuring all communities are supported.
The response to this giveaway greatly exceeded our expectations as there was an overwhelming amount of support for each of the charities named. The Victoria Humane Society was the recipient of the $500.00 donation, however, given the feedback and fantastic work performed by all the charities, we decided to also make a donation to Soap for Hope, Cycle of Life Tour, Homefulness at Woodwynn Farms and the Full Cupboard.