December is a time for giving - to each other, to family, friends, and even those we don’t know.
There is something about the “spirit of the season” that always brings out even more generosity from our already extremely generous community.
In the Comox Valley, we have dozens of non-profit groups, working together to make our area a better place to live for everyone. There are groups the Valley supports all year-round, and other groups that rely on our generosity specifically around this time of year.
Once again, the Comox Valley has rallied in support of these groups.
The Everybody Deserves a Smile Project recently wrapped up its most successful campaign ever, with a total of 1,159 care packages hand-delivered by Comox Valley school children to those in need in our community and beyond.
The Santa’s Workshop has ensured that 575 children in the Comox Valley will have gifts this Christmas. (The Workshop is open until Friday, Dec. 21 and can still help, if your family is in need. Call 250-897-0098.)
Sixteen-year-old Breanna Brosko’s Adopt-a-Grandparent campaign was another one that hit record numbers, with more than 300 Comox Valley seniors receiving gifts from anonymous Santas - that’s an increase of 100 from one year ago.
The Comox Valley Food Bank is always a grateful benefactor of the Valley’s generosity, and there have been many drives to help it out this season. 98.9 The Goat had a fantastic week-long drive outside the Cliffe Avenue Thrifty Foods, resulting in $100,000 worth of food for the food bank.
And, of course, the Earl Naswell Christmas Community Dinner expects somewhere north of 200 guests Dec. 25 at noon at the Florence Filberg Centre for a free sit-down turkey dinner, supplied, cooked and served by volunteers, who give up part of (or in some cases most of) their Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to ensure everyone who wants a Christmas dinner has one … or even two.
Just like any other community, the Comox Valley can have its polarizing issues. That’s never more apparent than during election years. But when it comes to generosity, it’s wonderful to see how united this community is.