Erin Haluschak
Record Staff
They are three-quarters of the way to their goal, and are hoping one last push can help the Comox Valley Food Bank distribute thousands of dollars in food to those in need.
This summer, Frieda Home and Ernst Vegt called upon Valley shutterbugs to collect images for their 2015 Comox Valley calendar, which sells for $20 apiece. The pair printed 2,000 copies, with the goal of donating $20,000 to the food bank from proceeds raised.
As of last week, they surpassed $15,000, and if they reach their goal, it can be turned into $40,000 worth of food by the food bank, explained Home.
“ … the (food bank) does not pay retail when they have to buy groceries that are in short supply, and that already gives them a better buy for each dollar expended,” she said. “The food bank will purchase a skid of milk (at wholesale) and Island Farms will leave them two skids of milk, one at no charge. We find that amazing.”
Home credits Vegt — a graphic arts colour specialist and owner of Coast Imaging Arts, Inc. — to help the calendar became a reality.
“Even though I have wanted to produce this type of a calendar since my husband and I moved to the Valley in 1998, it was not possible until Ernst, with his expertise and impressive credentials, moved to the Valley two years ago,” she noted in a previous interview with The Record.
The calendars are available at Coastal Community Credit Union branches, book stores and coffee shops around the Comox Valley, and Home said the response has been “surprising” even outside of the area.
Home sent a calendar to her cousin in the U.S., and he promptly sent $200 for the food bank. She added a student at Vancouver Island University visited the food bank as part of a project and was inspired to take a number of calendars to sell.
Plans are already in the works for a 2016 calendar, with more photo categories to be introduced and a number of businesses that are interested to come on board.
The calendars can be purchased at all three credit union locations, Blue Heron and Laughing Oyster book stores.
photos@comoxvalleyrecord.com