Food drive to help stock Duncan food bank shelves
The BC Thanksgiving Food Drive is coming to your doorstep to collect non-perishable food for the Cowichan Food Basket Society’s food bank, so you don’t even have to leave your home to help out.
BC Food Banks help almost 100,000 people each month. The BC Thanksgiving Food Drive helps to provide donations to local food banks to meet these needs and keep the shelves stocked well into December.
This year’s event takes place Sept. 11 to 16. During the week, local volunteers will deliver donation bags to door knobs of residential addresses. Those who want to participate by donating will place non-perishable items in the bag, and leave it out on their doorstep by 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16.
Volunteers will return to pick up the bags and deliver them to the food bank. Foods most needed are soups, mac and cheese, baked beans, Mr. Noodles, cans of veggies or fruit, rice, pasta, cereals, peanut butter and jams and baby foods.
Food can also be brought to 1815 Tzouhalem Rd. on Sept. 16, between 10 a.m. and noon where they will be boxing everything up for the trip to the food bank.
Last year, in the Cowichan Valley, over 5,500 homes were visited, and almost 11,000 pounds of food were collected. This year, volunteers are hoping to do even better, as they are planning on contacting even more households.
“We had two full cube trucks of food with lots of variety and the individual bags collected were full to the brim,” said local food bank director Colleen Fuller about previous years. “It was fabulous! The people who need this food desperately will really appreciate your help.”
Established in 2009 as a local effort to serve those in need of food bank services in Burnaby, B.C., the BCTFD has now expanded to include dozens of partner organizations and food banks serving some 50 communities throughout the province. Its fundamental purpose is to raise material and financial support for local food banks. The Cowichan Valley Food Basket Society’s food bank will be the recipient of all the food collected on Sept. 16. For more information, visit bctfooddrive.org
Ovarian Cancer Walk aims to offer hope to women
The Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope takes place on Sunday, Sept. 10 in more than 35 communities nationwide, and Duncan is one of them.
The most powerful event of its kind in the country, the Walk directs all attention and funds to overcoming ovarian cancer.
Five Canadian women are lost to this disease every day and 2,800 will be diagnosed this year alone. More than half of the women diagnosed are not expected to live past five years.
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, a time to bring attention to the most fatal women’s cancer in Canada. This year, activities kicked off with Wear Teal Day, when those affected by ovarian cancer don the colour of awareness and share their stories. Throughout the month a variety of events are planned across the country, all bringing a local flair. The community is also taking to social media to ensure women everywhere know there is no reliable screening test for this disease, and to demand change so that women with ovarian cancer can live fuller, better and longer lives. Activities culminate at the upcoming Walk.
“The Walk is a special opportunity for women and families who have been affected by ovarian cancer to come together to support one another, empower one another and demand better,” said Elisabeth Baugh, chief executive officer, Ovarian Cancer Canada. “Outcomes for women with this disease haven’t seen significant improvement in 50 years, and as a community we are determined to challenge the status quo by banding together and fundraising for much-needed change.”
Now in its 16th year, the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk of Hope has raised more than $23-million to provide support, increase awareness and fund vital research.
The Cowichan walk will take place at the Cowichan Sportsplex, in Duncan, beginning at 9 a.m.
Find out what you can do to help prevent suicide
In recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day the Canadian Mental Health Association is presenting: Suicide Prevention: What You Need to Know in Duncan on Monday, Sept. 11.
Join suicide prevention trainer Judy North for an hour discussion about suicided prevention and learn about why people consider suicide, what the clues are that someone may be contemplating such an action, and what you can do to help.
The talk takes place between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the Cowichan Library in the Island Savings Centre in Duncan.
The event is free, though registration is suggested as space is limited. To reserve a seat call 250-746-7661 or online through http://ow.ly/kN4f30eJGOR
For more information call Judy North at 250-905-0133 or email judy.north@cmha.bc.ca
September Festival an extravaganza in Cobble Hill
September is the month that brings one of the largest reduce, recycle and reuse events to the Cowichan Valley, as it is time for St. John’s Anglican Church, Cobble Hill to hold their September Festival.
The mega yard and clothing sales will be found in the church parking lot on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The garden centre is in its cool position under the trees with books on the roadway. Better buys, jewelry, art and silent auction will be in the hall and the church. Outside, divine desserts, the bake table, hamburgers, popcorn and beverages will be easy to enjoy.
For the children there are activities to keep them busy while others are shopping and visiting. A portion of the proceeds from the event will go to support local, national and international charities.
Reduce, reuse and recycle is the mandate.
The church is located at 3295 Cobble Hill Rd.
For further information phone 250-743-3095 or check out www.stjohnscobblehill.ca
Library offers top notch storytelling
Get ready to hear a great tale or two.
The Cowichan Library in Duncan has invited the Victoria Storytellers Guild and the Nanaimo Around Town Tellers to put on a storytelling exhibition on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 2-4 p.m.
The event is titled Stories for Harvest and Homecoming, so get ready to hear some down-home, touching tales as we head into the fall season.
The event is free.