Helping those in need:

Give at RapidReliefFund.ca. An idea with heart,

Mike Black, owner of Capital Iron, was looking for a way to give back during the COVID-19 pandemic when he saw a modified Canadian flag printed in an edition of the Times Colonist. It sparked an idea. He decided to recreate the design – a Canadian flag with a red heart in place of a maple leaf — on flags and sell them, with all proceeds going to the Rapid Relief Fund.

“It’s just our chance to do a little bit to help it out,” he said.

The flags sell for $20 and there are 150 available.

Flags can be purchased in person at Capital Iron’s downtown and Langford locations, by phone at 250-978-2200 or by email at shopfromhome@capitaliron.net.

The Rapid Relief Fund, created by the Victoria Foundation, the Jawl family and the Times Colonist, has raised more than $5.4 million to support vulnerable residents of southern Vancouver Island since March 21.

More than $4.1 million in grants has been given out to groups in Greater Victoria and the Cowichan Valley.

VanCity has issued a matching challenge for donations, pledging to double all money received from last Wednesday to Saturday at midnight up to $100,000.

As of 6:30 p.m. Saturday, donations had reached just over 95 per cent of the goal.

More than 14,000 donations have been made to the fund.

“What seems to set this [fund] apart is just the sheer volume of individuals that have contributed,” aid Rob Janus of the Victoria Foundation. “As usual, we kind of punch above our weight. It’s amazing, once again, for Greater Victoria.”