Holiday offer a pipe dream for many
The phone has been ringing off the hook at Rather Be Plumbing once word got out that the young plumbing company was willing to do plumbing for free for those in need.
The free plumbing offer, valid Monday to Friday last week, was the idea of owner Jarod Hughes.
“We wanted to give back to the community that has embraced us,” said Hughes, who started his new company last year and has been a plumber for the past nine years. “We ask and hope that only people who truly can’t afford plumbing take advantage of this service.”
He said he and his staff of four went to five or six free calls a day, with lost revenues amounting to more than $4,000.
For the most part, it is people in need who are calling, he said.
“We were just at the home of a single mother with three boys where the bathtub has been plugged for more than a year.”
Some callers are on fixed incomes, others are disabled and few have the resources to afford paying $70 an hour for plumbing services.
Hughes said that although he offered his services for free, he asks people to reimburse him for any materials needed.
For more information, go to ratherbeplumbing.com.
Blood donations needed over holiday season
Canadian Blood Services is issuing an urgent appeal to eligible blood donors to ensure hospital patients have access to the blood and blood products over the holidays.
“The holiday period always presents challenges for us as we work to ensure we have enough blood and blood products to meet patients’ needs,” said Rick Prinzen, chief supply chain officer. “We know that Canadians are busy with travel and activities over the holidays, and we hope that they will make time to save a life and give blood. Canadian patients’ lives depend on them.”
The agency is hoping to fill 5,000 open appointments in British Columbia by Jan. 6. To help reach the goal, blood collection centres will be open on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day — along with regular collection hours.
New and existing donors are welcome, and walk-ins will be accepted.
People who are unable to give blood can give financially, or can encourage others to give blood on their behalf.
Canadian Blood Services manages the national supply of blood, blood products, stem cells and related services for all the provinces and territories, excluding Quebec.
To book an appointment people can download a GiveBlood app, call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-2366283), or visit blood.ca.
Our Place serves dinner to 1,000
Christmas came early for more than 1,000 vulnerable citizens as Our Place served up its annual Giant Christmas Meal last week.
Over the past few weeks, kitchen staff and volunteers have been busy creating tasty meals for the masses on a limited budget.
This year, thanks to extra support of donors during the festive season, they were able to serve up 450 kilograms of turkey, 225 kg of potatoes, 110 kg of stuffing, 100 kg of vegetables, 115 litres of gravy, 25 kg of cranberry sauce, 125 pies and more than 1,500 cups of coffee.
“I love it,” said Brian Cox, manager of food services. “The Our Place family really appreciates that we deliver such a special feast for them at this important time of year.”
Local politicians, community leaders and volunteers all pitched in to serve turkey and all the fixings to the region’s homeless and vulnerable at the event.
“Christmas is all about family,” said Don Evans, executive director of Our Place. “And for those people living in poverty, we’re often the closest family they have. We want everyone to know they are loved and cared for.”
For more information, go to ourplacesociety.com.
Help save Hermann’s at art auction
Support live jazz in Victoria by bidding at Art on View for Jazz, a silent art auction to save Hermann’s Jazz Club — and local jazz music — Wednesday to Sunday at the Martin Batchelor Gallery.
Local visual artists have donated their works for the auction. Some of the local musicians who play at Hermann’s regularly are also expected to drop in over the five afternoons to provide live music.
The auction runs 1 to 5 p.m. daily from Wednesday to Sunday at the Martin Batchelor Gallery, 712 Cormorant St. The last bids will be accepted at 4 p.m. Dec. 31. For more information, call Margaret Hantiuk at 778-265-9004.
Food donations at exercise classes
Last week, Nanaimo Parks and Recreation gave Nanaimo residents an opportunity to give a gift of food while giving themselves the gift of health.
For four days, people taking part in certain fitness classes at Oliver Woods Community Centre could get a drop in their fees in exchange for a non-perishable food item for the local food bank.
“We thought this would be a fantastic opportunity to give back to the community, but also to encourage attendance at fitness classes during a normally hectic time when sometimes exercise gets put aside,” said Kathy Gonzales, recreation co-ordinator. “It’s also a great way to come and try a class to see if it might be something you’d like to sign up for in the New Year.”
Eight fitness classes were offered, including yoga, boxercise and zumba. Instructors donated their time to lead the sessions.
For more information, go to nanaimo.ca.
Volunteers fill stockings for needy people
More than 1,600 children caught in the cycle of poverty, and people in shelters, in detox and on the streets will soon get stockings filled with gifts, hygiene items and treats for the holidays.
This was the 20th year of the Warm a Soul campaign, an initiative of Extreme Outreach Society, which ran from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15.
The campaign focuses primarily on those who have many needs and would otherwise never receive a gift.
This year, the not-for-profit organization exceeded its initial goal of 1,500 stockings, with 1,000 going to those in need in Greater Victoria and 500 to children in need in the Surrey and Langley area
Each stocking typically includes items such as brushes, hygiene products, clothing, toys, books, games and hard candy for a total value of about $20.
Women and children receive a large red stocking. Men receive a pair of large wool socks.
For the past month, donations have poured in to the Extreme Outreach Coffee House in View Royal, where specialty coffees, roasted coffee beans, sandwiches and snacks are by donation. Proceeds from the coffee house go toward the organization’s community outreach children’s programs.
The coffee house is at 102-284 Helmcken Rd.
The vision of Extreme Outreach Society is to remove barriers caused by poverty, which will result in stronger and healthier communities. For more information, go to extremeoutreach.com.
Run into the new year
Lace up your runners to take part in the 29th annual Run Through Time, Dec. 31 at the University of Victoria.
Adult participants can choose between a three-kilometre walk and five-km run, while children can take part in a one-kilometre run.
The annual New Year’s Eve family-friendly event is hosted by Runners of Compassion as a fundraiser for Shoes for Youth, a program that assists the underprivileged with footwear.
Since 1996, when the charity and Frontrunners Footwear founded the Shoes for Youth program, more than 2,000 pairs of shoes have been donated.
The route, around Ring Road at the University of Victoria, will be followed by light refreshments and snacks in the lobby of the university’s McKinnon Gym.
Registration fees are $20 for adults, $15 for children and $50 for families of four or more. Register at the two Victoria Frontrunners locations, online at raceroster.com or between 5 and 5:45 p.m. on the day of the event in the McKinnon Gym lobby. The event starts at 6 p.m. Dec. 31. The group is on Facebook.
Tuque campaign aids the homeless
Take part in Raising the Roof’s 21st Toque Campaign to support their goal of ending homelessness in Canada.
Since 1997, the campaign has raised much-needed funds for the organization’s partner agencies that work directly with people experiencing homelessness.
Every year, thousands of volunteers, sponsors and supporters across Canada sell Raising the Roof tuques to assist the homeless in their communities.
The campaign has raised more than $8 million in over 20 years, supporting more than 200 partner agencies that provide access to essential services and supports in their communities.
This year, people can enter the Toque Me Away contest for a chance to win two Air Canada tickets to anywhere in North America, including Hawaii and the Caribbean.
People are encouraged to share their own #toqueselfie when wearing a Raising the Roof tuque and spread the message of supporting homelessness prevention.
You can join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #ToqueTuesday, #rtrtoque, #WearsToqueToday and @RaisingtheRoof.
Tuques can be purchased at partner agencies across Canada, including the Port Alberni Shelter Society, and at raisingtheroof.org.
Help line coming to capital region
The United Way Greater Victoria has announced it will provide additional funding to bring a new shelter and street helpline — bc211 — to the capital region.
Victoria joins nine other United Ways throughout B.C. using an online service directory of more than 13,000 agency and program records related to community, social and government services.
The shelter and street helpline can assist people who are affected by homelessness to find a warm place to stay on any given night. It also provides reliable and up-to-date information for front-line shelter staff and police officers to help place someone from the street in a temporary shelter.
Staff at bc211 will call the 10 local shelters, including year round, seasonal and emergencyweather protocol options in the capital region, two times a day. They then publish the bed and mat availability as an online PDF. Service providers, police officers and individuals facing homelessness can call or text 2-1-1 to speak to an agent 24 hours a day.
The agent can assist with locating the nearest available shelter space that meets the person’s requirements, which could include places that have a space for carts, allow pets or are wheelchair accessible.
The free information and referral service is available in more than 160 languages (17 of which are Aboriginal).
The website is optimized for mobile devices, and online chat is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Trained and certified information and referral specialists can link callers to services such as mental-health supports, shelter and housing, legal aid, employment programs, addictions treatment, newcomer services, children’s and youth programs, senior services or food banks.
For more information, call or text 2-1-1 or go to bc211.ca.