Several Alberni Valley families are benefiting from a pair of Christmas fundraising events by the Beaver Creek Volunteer Fire Department.
The fire department held their annual Christmas food drive throughout the month of December in partnership with Buy-Low Foods. Patrons at the grocery store could donate $20, and Buy-Low Foods in turn donated $40 worth of food to the fire department to be used for food hampers.
In total, said Fire Chief Mike Kobus, the department raised $5,000 worth of food. With help from Island Health staff, 10 families in the Beaver Creek area were selected to receive food hampers after Christmas.
"It's often after Christmas that people are having a hard time, because Christmas can be an expensive time of year," Kobus explained. "We wanted to be able to relieve that burden for people."
The department also held its annual Santa Drive during the holiday season, where the fire truck — decked out in lights and playing Christmas music — travelled around Beaver Creek. This drive collected donations of food and warm clothing, which were given to Sage Haven Society.
However, they also collected cash, raising a total of $2,000. The department's Santa Food Drive Committee made the decision to divide this total between two different organizations: Ty Watson House and the Port Alberni Backpack Program.
The Backpack Program provides school families with food over the weekend, while Ty Watson House (operated by the Alberni Valley Hospice Society) is a community hospice that provides support for people who need end-of-life care.
Margaret Vatamaniuck, the executive director for the Alberni Valley Hospice Society, said this donation will go towards medical equipment or items that will assist in the comfort of residents living at Ty Watson House.
"I have no words for how much this means to us," she said. "It allows us to support our residents and their families. I'm always speechless with how generous Port Alberni is for these kinds of causes."
Kobus said the Beaver Creek Volunteer Fire Department is always looking for ways to give back to the Alberni Valley community.
"We've been doing the Santa Drive for the past seven years," explained Kobus. "Last year was good, but this year was even better."
