Charity and Donations

RCMP police dog handlers Cpl. Dean Muir, left, and Const. Matthew Tomasson show off a blanket crocheted for police service dog Herc. (Photo submitted)

Nanaimo police dogs get crocheted blankets for Christmas

Woman who loves to crochet creates blankets for all four of Nanaimo RCMP’s police service dogs

RCMP police dog handlers Cpl. Dean Muir, left, and Const. Matthew Tomasson show off a blanket crocheted for police service dog Herc. (Photo submitted)
The North Oyster Volunteer Fire department accepts a donation for its toy drive from Bob and Diane Burgess. (Photo submitted)

Calendar sale proceeds add up to $1,000 donation to North Oyster toy drive

North Oyster Volunteer Fire Department collecting presents for Nanaimo hospital

The North Oyster Volunteer Fire department accepts a donation for its toy drive from Bob and Diane Burgess. (Photo submitted)
Nanaimo Child Development is partnering with Island Mediquip, Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island and a number of social service agencies for a therapeutic equipment loan program. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo Child Development Centre teams to provide access to therapeutic equipment

NCDC teams with Island Mediquip and community social service agencies

Nanaimo Child Development is partnering with Island Mediquip, Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island and a number of social service agencies for a therapeutic equipment loan program. (News Bulletin file photo)
Greg Willmon, Rogers Foudation director, left, and Erin Beaudoin, Eden Gardens executive director, stand by as Rogers Foundation board directors Ruth Thorpe and Barrie Rogers throw a switch to light the Brighten Our Spirits fundraising challenge banner during a cheque presentation at the challenge kickoff event Thursday, Dec. 9. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo charity campaign brightens spirits of seniors living with dementia

Eden Gardens’ Brighten Our Spirits challenge stands to benefit from donation of up to $15,000

Greg Willmon, Rogers Foudation director, left, and Erin Beaudoin, Eden Gardens executive director, stand by as Rogers Foundation board directors Ruth Thorpe and Barrie Rogers throw a switch to light the Brighten Our Spirits fundraising challenge banner during a cheque presentation at the challenge kickoff event Thursday, Dec. 9. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Bailey Paauwe, left, and Ella McPherson started an online fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada after Paauwe’s stepfather was diagnosed last month with leukemia. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo elementary school students raise money for leukemia society after family member’s diagnosis

Pleasant Valley Elementary School students educate peers, start online fundraiser

Bailey Paauwe, left, and Ella McPherson started an online fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada after Paauwe’s stepfather was diagnosed last month with leukemia. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)
Charles Nelson, executive director of the Society for Equity, Inclusion and Advocacy, sits among offices devoid of staff. Nelson and volunteers are trying to keep some services operating after the society laid off staff upon discovering some of its operating funds had allegedly gone missing. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo non-profit lays off staff, shutters services after possible misappropriation of money

RCMP investigating after Society for Equity, Inclusion and Advocacy’s operating funds go missing

Charles Nelson, executive director of the Society for Equity, Inclusion and Advocacy, sits among offices devoid of staff. Nelson and volunteers are trying to keep some services operating after the society laid off staff upon discovering some of its operating funds had allegedly gone missing. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
The City of Nanaimo announced it has purchased a property on East Wellington Road for Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank to develop a food distribution warehouse. (News Bulletin file photo)

City of Nanaimo buys property for Loaves and Fishes to build warehouse

City pays $1.3 million for lot on East Wellington Road

The City of Nanaimo announced it has purchased a property on East Wellington Road for Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank to develop a food distribution warehouse. (News Bulletin file photo)
Give and Go, a drive-thru charitable event in support of the Salvation Army and Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank, will be held at Steve Marshall Ford Lincoln on Dec. 10 from 5-7 p.m. (Photo submitted)

Community members in Nanaimo with charitable donations for Christmas asked to Give and Go

Drive-thru donation event at Steve Marshall Ford Lincoln will be held Dec. 10

Give and Go, a drive-thru charitable event in support of the Salvation Army and Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank, will be held at Steve Marshall Ford Lincoln on Dec. 10 from 5-7 p.m. (Photo submitted)
Grade 1 student Huxley MacGregor and Grade 7 student Riley Antrim-Shoquist show off their learning projects related to homelessness as part of Fairview Elementary School’s Everybody Deserves a Smile campaign. (Photo submitted)

Nanaimo students know Everybody Deserves a Smile as they work on campaign of compassion

Nanaimo students create cards, envelopes and awareness

Grade 1 student Huxley MacGregor and Grade 7 student Riley Antrim-Shoquist show off their learning projects related to homelessness as part of Fairview Elementary School’s Everybody Deserves a Smile campaign. (Photo submitted)
Youth 20/20 Can member Brandon Murphy, youth engagement worker Gwen Vonarx, and member Sonja Ferg hope community members will donate warm clothing at a drive Dec. 10-11 at Maffeo Sutton Park. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

Youth volunteer group asking Nanaimo to donate Coats for Christmas

Youth 20/20 Can holding drive Dec. 10-11 at Maffeo Sutton Park

Youth 20/20 Can member Brandon Murphy, youth engagement worker Gwen Vonarx, and member Sonja Ferg hope community members will donate warm clothing at a drive Dec. 10-11 at Maffeo Sutton Park. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)
Janice Krall, Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation chief development officer, is plugged in to the sixth annual Light the Trees campaign to raise $1 million for equipment and projects at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Hospital foundation lighting the trees for health projects in Nanaimo

This month’s Light the Trees campaign fundraising for hospital equipment and health-care outreach

Janice Krall, Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation chief development officer, is plugged in to the sixth annual Light the Trees campaign to raise $1 million for equipment and projects at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
The Great Nanaimo Toy Drive is collecting toys, books, games and cash donations so that children and teens in need have presents under the tree on Christmas. (Stock photo)

Great Nanaimo Toy Drive pushing for donations as Christmas gets closer

Families wishing to receive presents need to register by Friday, Dec. 3

The Great Nanaimo Toy Drive is collecting toys, books, games and cash donations so that children and teens in need have presents under the tree on Christmas. (Stock photo)
Coins for Kids volunteers Pete MacDonald, left, and Ian Thorpe hope people will drop donations in collection jars to help the Great Nanaimo Toy Drive and BGC Central Vancouver Island this holiday season. Coin jars are at all Quality Foods locations in Nanaimo, at John’s Bedrooms, and at the Nanaimo News Bulletin office. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Coins help Nanaimo kids learn and play

News Bulletin’s Coins for Kids campaign collecting for charity

Coins for Kids volunteers Pete MacDonald, left, and Ian Thorpe hope people will drop donations in collection jars to help the Great Nanaimo Toy Drive and BGC Central Vancouver Island this holiday season. Coin jars are at all Quality Foods locations in Nanaimo, at John’s Bedrooms, and at the Nanaimo News Bulletin office. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
B.C. Lottery Corporation’s new Love Local B.C. campaign is supporting Nanaimo’s Loaves and Fishes and 10 other food banks around B.C. (News Bulletin file photo)

Lottery corporation’s shop local campaign supports Nanaimo’s Loaves and Fishes food bank

BCLC selling and auctioning B.C. products and gift cards online as part of Love Local B.C. project

B.C. Lottery Corporation’s new Love Local B.C. campaign is supporting Nanaimo’s Loaves and Fishes and 10 other food banks around B.C. (News Bulletin file photo)
New safety surfacing at Harewood Centennial Park. (City of Nanaimo photo)

Nanaimo’s Harewood Centennial Park playground gets upgrades

New swings and play surface installed thanks in part to Lions Club and Kal Tire fund

New safety surfacing at Harewood Centennial Park. (City of Nanaimo photo)
Ryan Reynolds, an actor and advocate for many issues, appears in a Pacific Wild campaign video. He is also asking his followers to make donations to the Canadian Red Cross to help with disaster relief efforts in Abbotsford and other flood-affected communities. (Pacific Wild Website)

Ryan Reynolds makes Red Cross donation following B.C. floods, urges fans to do the same

Canadian Red Cross providing humanitarian assistance to those affected by extreme weather

Ryan Reynolds, an actor and advocate for many issues, appears in a Pacific Wild campaign video. He is also asking his followers to make donations to the Canadian Red Cross to help with disaster relief efforts in Abbotsford and other flood-affected communities. (Pacific Wild Website)
Sandra Dunn, floral merchandiser at Quality Foods Harewood, counts coins donated to the Nanaimo News Bulletin’s Coins for Kids holiday fundraising campaign. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Coins for Kids Christmas-time charity campaign now collecting

Fundraiser benefits Great Nanaimo Toy Drive and BGC Canada Central Vancouver Island

Sandra Dunn, floral merchandiser at Quality Foods Harewood, counts coins donated to the Nanaimo News Bulletin’s Coins for Kids holiday fundraising campaign. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Peter Sinclair, Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank executive director, left, and Bryan Jubinville, volunteer, show off some produce being sorted before it is shipped to the Salvation Army depot in Nanaimo. The food bank is looking for volunteers to help out with this year’s Christmas hamper program. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Donations and volunteers needed for Christmas hamper program in Nanaimo

Loaves and Fishes food bank, Salvation Army Nanaimo again team for Hamperville program

Peter Sinclair, Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank executive director, left, and Bryan Jubinville, volunteer, show off some produce being sorted before it is shipped to the Salvation Army depot in Nanaimo. The food bank is looking for volunteers to help out with this year’s Christmas hamper program. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Dawne Anderson, Nanaimo Salvation Army envoy, displays payment options available to people who want to make donations to this year’s Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Drive, which runs until Dec. 24. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Jingle bells in Nanaimo signal start of Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Drive

Kettles will be at 21 locations around the city from now until Christmas Eve

Dawne Anderson, Nanaimo Salvation Army envoy, displays payment options available to people who want to make donations to this year’s Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Drive, which runs until Dec. 24. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Volunteers Jenna Taylor, left, Tara Feindel, Mason Bennett and Volunteer Nanaimo executive director Rita Innamorati are prepping for the holidays and the Christmas Angels program. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

Donations sought to help Nanaimo Christmas Angels program take flight

Volunteer Nanaimo to hold craft fair Nov. 20 to assist with Christmas Angel effort

Volunteers Jenna Taylor, left, Tara Feindel, Mason Bennett and Volunteer Nanaimo executive director Rita Innamorati are prepping for the holidays and the Christmas Angels program. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)