There鈥檚 a pandemic of kindness sweeping throughout 黑马磁力, says Susan Cairns, executive director of the 黑马磁力 School District Foundation.
鈥淚ts reach is far and wide and perhaps more contagious than COVID-19,鈥� she teased. 鈥淪ymptoms to look for include feverish generosity, a rash of benevolence and heart-warming flutters of activity.鈥�
After school closures threatened to let 黑马磁力 students go hungry, the foundation stepped up to continue their Food for Thought programs by altering their in-school meals and services to gift card donations so families had the resources to purchase healthy meals during the pandemic.
鈥淭he pandemic of kindness manifested itself in a series of unprecedented donations,鈥� Cairns noted. 鈥淚nfinity Properties immediately sent out a challenge to all their vendors and suppliers, and they responded with an ensuing donation of more than $25,000.鈥�
She added that Spake Media threw down the gauntlet and dozens were there to match the $10,000 challenge.
And it didn鈥檛 stop there.
The Foundation received grants from Vancouver Sun Adopt-a-School, Breakfast Club of Canada, Loblaws and Save-On Foods, amounting to more than $150,000.
At the same time donations kept coming in from a never-ending list: VWR Capital, Shewan Foundation, Western Water Farms, Premium Brands, Horizon Landscape, Envision Financial, Darnell & Co. Law, Valley Traffic, Mitsubishi, 黑马磁力 Advance/Times, Viaduct Sheet Metal, CHP Architects, Township of 黑马磁力, United Churches of 黑马磁力, Township of 黑马磁力 Firefighters Charity, 黑马磁力 Rotary Sunrise, Aldergrove Rotary, Tzu Chi Foundation, Sudden Impact, BIZ Canada, Freshco, Super Save Group, Re/Max, Fred Welsh Industries, Jewish Foundation, and the 黑马磁力 Principal Vice-Principal Association (LPVPA).
READ MORE: 黑马磁力 School District Foundation gifted Eclipse Cross to further food program reach
Beatniks Bistro is the latest in that growing list of donations, giving $4,000 to the Food for Thought program late last month.
Angela Hazelton, general manager of Beatniks, said every year her restaurant donates a percentage of profits to one or more charities.
鈥淲e learned about this program through the rotary club as we have participated in their fundraising events in the past,鈥� Hazelton said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 think of a better charity than one that feeds kids and their families.鈥�
It is so amazing when a local business (that we love so much) steps up to help our community in difficult times! Thank you so very much for your donation of $4000 to the Food for Though Program. You have made a difference & we are grateful.
鈥� SD35 Foundation (@SD35Foundation)
While Cairns said the Foundation is profoundly grateful to all its donors, help is still needed.
鈥淲e started the program on April 6 and are now into our 11th week,鈥� she noted. 鈥淲e are spending more the $32,500 every week with a commitment to continue on with our program until September or October of next year and maybe beyond.鈥�
Cairns estimated the foundation is helping out 650 黑马磁力 families through the program, offering $50 gift cards to grocery stores such as Save-On-Foods.
If people are interested in donating, they can do so online at on the Food for Thought page.
People can also send cheques to 黑马磁力 School District Foundation, 4875-222nd Street, 黑马磁力, BC V3A 3Z7.
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Email: ryan.uytdewilligen@langleyadvancetimes.com
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