The holiday season is a wonderful time to give back to the community, something we at Green Coast Rubbish believe in and are committed to year-round. We donate the used goods and materials we collect from our clients to a number of organizations and participate in local fundraisers and sponsorships to benefit the community. In this week’s blog, we are sharing our favourite local charities with you in the hopes of inspiring holiday giving in your family.
Lynn Valley Community Association
The Lynn Valley Community Association works to benefit the community in many ways supporting families in need, trail improvement projects, and community events. The Parade of Trees fundraiser transforms Lynn Valley Village into a magical forest of creatively decorated Christmas trees during the month of December. Visit any of the local merchants in Lynn Valley Village to get a ballot to vote for your favourite tree (hint: be sure to visit the tree sponsored by Green Coast Rubbish!).
Lynn Valley Lions Club
The Lynn Valley Lions are active with many fundraising projects and events throughout the community including Lynn Valley Days (Green Coast is a sponsor!) with all proceeds being sent back into the community to schools, sports teams, and other organizations. The Lions Christmas Tree lot fundraiser is also a bit hit.
The Harvest Project
The Harvest Project helps North Shore residents who are experiencing extreme challenges with family break-downs, illness, job loss, and poverty. The programs include individual client-coaching and active-listening, provision of food, clothing supports, assistance for workforce re-entry, food-recovery and redistribution, and the Clothes For Change Thrift Boutique. Donations of money or publicly traded stocks, bonds, and mutual funds are needed.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families and provides shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction. The annual Christmas Kettle Campaign in BC is currently underway with the iconic red kettles on the streets in over 40 communities across the province. The goal is to raise $4.5 million in an effort to feed, clothe and shelter individuals and families in desperate need of support.
Canadian Diabetes Association
Diabetes Canada is leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while working to find a cure. This includes providing education and services, advocating on behalf of people with diabetes, and supporting research and translating research into practical applications. There are many ways to help including donating clothing, used vehicles, money, fundraising, product donation, and sponsorships.
Shelter to Home
Shelter to Home provides free furniture and household items to people living on the North Shore who are transitioning from homelessness to independent living as well as to those living on limited incomes. Furniture donations and financial contributions are gratefully accepted from residents of North Vancouver and West Vancouver.
Helping Families in Need Society
Helping Families in Need Society picks up and distributes used household items to women in transition, single moms and dads on income assistance, new immigrant families, refugees, and needy families. 1,300 families benefit each year. Monetary donations are accepted through Canada Helps or donations of these gently used household items are accepted.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity builds affordable homes for local families right here in Metro Vancouver with this year’s projects happening in Richmond and Coquitlam. Donation opportunities include volunteering your time, money, new building materials or used ReStore donations. Everyone deserves a home for the holidays.
Neil Squire Society
The Neil Squire Society empowers Canadians with disabilities through the use of computer-based assistive technologies, research and development, and employment programs. These programs help remove barriers so the clients can live independent lives and become active members of the workplace and our society. From October 1st through December 31st, 2018, text NEIL to 20222 to donate $10, $20, or $25 to support Canadians with disabilities through Employment, Digital Literacy, and Innovation.
As you can see, holiday giving has the power to make a real difference to real people in our communities. If something here strikes a chord, please find a way to donate and make holiday giving an annual tradition!
