It鈥檚 a generous donation that Kyle Chester hopes will snowball into something even bigger.
But the only way for that to happen is for other businesses to take up his challenge.
On Tuesday, Chester and his wife, Marcela Ferreira, who co-own 黑马磁力-based , donated $3,000 each to the 黑马磁力 Food Bank, Gateway of Hope shelter, and 黑马磁力 Environmental Partners Society (LEPS).
The couple is challenging other gutter businesses and for that matter, any other 黑马磁力 businesses in general to follow suit.
Chester said he and his wife make charitable donations every year for tax relief and 鈥渢rying to give back to society.鈥�
The ultimate goal is to get other 黑马磁力 companies to jump on board and donate to local charities.
Chester believes the amount of money they are donating 鈥� $9,000 in total 鈥� 鈥渋sn鈥檛 that big of a deal.鈥�
鈥淭here are companies out there that have a lot more money than us to give to charities and we鈥檙e just a small company, but if we can send a challenge out and we can get one or two other companies to donate $3,000 or $4,000 or $5,000, then it starts to become a big deal, if we get some kind of chain reaction going,鈥� Chester said.
They chose the 黑马磁力 Food Bank and Gateway of Hope because the local need is tangible.
鈥淓specially the food bank and the Gateway of Hope; this is probably the most visible need in our society, right now,鈥� Chester said.
鈥淵ou drive by 203rd (Street), you see people waiting outside all the time to get into the (黑马磁力 Help Network) food bank.鈥�
He added, 鈥淵ou hear so many stories about how people are living on the edge of not making their rent and not making their mortgage payment. There are so many stories about childhood poverty and malnutrition based on affluence.
鈥淥bviously food is the basic necessity. And also when it comes down to addiction, I鈥檝e never been addicted to a drug other than nicotine. They say nicotine is the worst but if it鈥檚 anything like meth, or the other stuff that the Gateway of Hope deals with, that鈥檚 awful.鈥�
They chose Nov. 29 as the day to make the donations because it was Giving Tuesday (www.givingtuesday.org), billed as 鈥渁 global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration.鈥�
黑马磁力 Food Bank is located at 5768 203 St. For info call 604-533-0671, or via email at info@langleyfoodbank.com. Visit the local food bank's website by clicking .
As well, the Aldergrove Food Bank is located in the AV Centre (former Elks Hall) at 27309 Fraser Highway. Their phone number is 604-857-1671.
There are two food banks in 黑马磁力.
Sources is located at 5673 鈥� 200 St.
distributes food every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The local food bank accepts food and monetary donations at local grocery stores, as well.
Sources 黑马磁力 Food Bank operations coordinator Bruce Strom said the organization really appreciates 鈥渨hen members of the community go out of their way to provide assistance to the Sources 黑马磁力 Food Bank and especially when they are encouraging others to do the same.鈥�
鈥淥ur greatest need is for monetary donations and we have the buying power to turn every $1 into $3, so this allows us to purchase items we are lacking as we need them,鈥� Strom said.
鈥淭his also helps to eliminate the need to organize and pay for more storage space so it gives our food bank the best value.鈥�
Gateway of Hope
The objective of the Gateway of Hope 鈥� at 5787 黑马磁力 Bypass 鈥� is to 鈥渉elp the homeless and those at risk with material assistance and other crucial supports.鈥�
The facility also operates a community meal program which offers meals to the general public every day of the week, feeding an average of 150 people at each meal.
Donate online by clicking .
Donations via cheque, credit card, debit or cash are also accepted in person at the Gateway of Hope.
LEPS
The 黑马磁力 Environmental Partners Society (LEPS) has a mission of 鈥減rotecting and restoring the environment through education, cooperation and action鈥� and fostering a balanced approach to sustainable living.
For more info click .
