Skip to content

Greater Victoria residents can show their charity through Light Up the City

Drive-thru food bank and toy donation dropoff sites open up this Saturday around region
23457686_web1_201126-VNE-LightUpTheCity-foodbank_1
Goldstream Food Bank volunteers at work. Light Up the City will be offering various options for the public to drop off non-perishable food items to support this food bank and others in Greater Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)

The pandemic thwarted plans for mass gatherings like the Santa’s Light Parade and the Island Equipment Owners Association (IOEA) Truck Light Convoy and Food Drive, but the spirit behind those popular Greater Victoria community events remains.

The organizers of both teamed up to coordinate a way for the public to continue donating cash, non-perishable food items and new unwrapped toys for families in need, starting with a series of drive-thru donation dropoffs this Saturday (Nov. 28).

Light Up the City, on through Jan. 3, offers multiple options for supporting the Rainbow Kitchen in Esquimalt, the Goldstream Food Bank on the West Shore, the Mustard Seed Street Church and the Salvation Army Victoria Citadel.

RELATED STORY: Light Up the City takes root in Greater Victoria as pandemic cancels holiday favourite parade, convoy

Kelly Kurta, executive director of the Greater Victoria Festival Society, said she and IOEA’s Wendy Watt have had many conversations with Island Health to ensure the dropoff format follows public health orders around COVID-19. Kurta said her “stomach was in knots” until they got the green light Wednesday from the health authority.

“Food banks and toy drives are essential services, and this year, more than ever, we need them,” she said.

While Christmas charity fundraisers are common in Victoria, there are many untold stories of families hard hit by COVID, Kurta said. “We want to bring joy back to their faces and happiness back into people’s hearts.”

Given the cancellation of gatherings, the entertainment planned for Light Up the City is on hold until at least Dec. 7, Kurta said, noting they even had a Plexiglas sheet custom made to separate performers and attendees.

RELATED STORY: Winter blues a concern for Vancouver Islanders during COVID-19 Christmas season

On the bright side, a new Christmas lighting competition kicks off Dec. 1 for entries in five separate categories: homes, apartment/condos, local businesses, community organizations and First Nations communities. The five winners receive a prize worth more than $1,000 and 15 prizes in all are up for grabs. Entrants must email photos of their displays, along with their street address to gvfsvic@gmail.com.

A Light Up the City map to view displays from the safety of your vehicle will be created as entries come in. Watch the festival’s Facebook page for details.

Dropoff locations open on Saturday, Nov. 28 include Westshore Town Centre’s Cineplex Odeon parking lot, 5 to 7:30 p.m. for the Goldstream Food Bank (masks and gloves mandatory). Kids can wave to Santa from a safe distance. Dropoffs delivered between 1 and 6 p.m. at The Bay Centre downtown’s guest services desk go to Mustard Seed Food Bank and CFAX Santa’s Anonymous.

The Saanich Lions Club is accepting dropoffs at Houle Electric, 4240 Glanford Ave. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for the Salvation Army. Other dropoff locations Saturday include Fan Tan Home and Style, 541 Fisgard St. (10 a.m. to 3 p.m), and Sunbelt Rentals locations at 2994 Jacklin Rd. in Langford; 402 Garbally Rd., Victoria, and 10115 McDonald Park Rd. in Sidney (all 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

Find a list of locations open in December at gvfs.ca/drop-off-your-donation/.


 

Do you have a story tip? Email:don.descoteau@blackpress.ca. Follow us on Instagram.  Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.