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Cowichan Coffee Time: Fundraisers big and small come through

• Organizers are thanking everyone who supported the Garden House Foundation Fund’s recent charity book sale held at Bonner School.
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The Kinette Club of Lake Cowichan makes a donation to the Lake Cowichan Salmon Enhancement & Hatchery. (submitted)

• Organizers are thanking everyone who supported the Garden House Foundation Fund’s recent charity book sale held at Bonner School.

This year attendance at the sale increased by about 20 per cent and the funds raised were the highest ever: $12,596 (including a previous donation by Frances Kelsey students).

“Thank you to Ten Old Books, Bibles for Missions and W.I.N.G.S., as well as the many individuals who donated books,” said organizers. “The staff and student volunteers from Bonner School and Brentwood College did an outstanding job as usual, and we are beyond grateful for our loyal team of adult volunteers. Thank you also to RONA Cobble Hill and Accent Screen Printing for their donation of resources.”

Profits from the sale have been added to the Garden House Foundation’s permanent fund, which provides annual grants to the Duncan SPCA, Cowichan Family Life and Cowichan Women Against Violence and will do so forever. By the end of 2017 the fund is expected to reach $130,000. To learn more about the Garden House Foundation or how to donate books, visit www.gardenhousefoundation.wordpress.com

• In October the Baha’i communities of the Cowichan Valley and guests celebrated the 200th anniversary of their prophet founder, Baha’u’llah.

Along with several other events, 120 people attended a program of music and film at Vancouver Island University, 70 others enjoyed dinner and an evening of sharing on the Cowichan Tribes reserve and two trees were planted in a park to commemorate the occasion.

• Three local charities have benefited as a result of the First Annual Big Shop of Horrors Haunted House event.

The Big Shop Of Horrors creator Daphne Swift and her werewolf friend visited the Cowichan Valley Basket Society recently to drop off a Halloween treat of $4,500.

Manager Colleen Fuller was very happy to accept the donation which was collected through Island Savings’ signature cause “The Full Cupboard” which raises food, funds and awareness for Island food banks.

Island Savings was proud to support the fundraiser with both in-kind and financial support. More than 30 staff contributed to the event’s success during both construction of the house and as parking attendants, cashiers and actors.

More than 1,250 visited the haunted house during its seven-day run and plans are already in the works for the fun to continue next year.

The charity event also benefited the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada which received $1,567 and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Cowichan Valley which received $500. Thank you Daphne and her husband Rick for all of their efforts in coordinating this large scale community fundraiser and to the many volunteers, sponsors and local businesses who supported it.

• On Oct. 27, the Grade 5s at Queen of Angels School held a bake sale, raising $376 for the food bank.

Students spent the month of October in small groups researching poverty, marketing and preparing the goodies for bake sale day. Colleen Fuller from the food bank visited the students on Nov. 2 to accept the donation and talk to the students about the role of the food bank in the Cowichan Valley.

• The BC Forest Discovery Centre is thanking all the volunteers who helped them to make the eight-day Halloween Train event a big success.

The Centre reports a record turnout with more than 2,200 people attending on Oct. 27. In total more than 9,500 came for Halloween and the Centre says “feedback has been outstanding”.

The group gives a special thank you to the Knights of Pythias, Queen Margaret’s School, the Kathy White Dancers, the Lions Club and the BCFDC Monday and Tuesday morning volunteers who helped with set-up.

• Recently the local Kinette Club of Lake Cowichan made a donation to the Lake Cowichan Salmon Enhancement & Hatchery.

Parm Birk, vice president and Tracey Gibson, director, met with Bob Crandall and presented the cheque of $2,500 to help the society meet their goals this fall. This is the largest donation the Kinette Club has given since they began about three years ago and they presently have 10 active members.

The Kin Clubs of Lake Cowichan are actively involved in many other initiatives and more information can be found on their Facebook pages.

• At a sleepover to celebrate Denzel’s 12th birthday a group of Duncan boys took on an unusual birthday activity: painting white poppies.

From left: Denzel, Josh, Cayman, Parker, Alexander, Terrance (at back) and Landon were happy to create the white poppies to remember all the victims of war.

White poppies are often worn to mourn the devastation war causes to all of nature and protest the vast waste of resources that could be used for education and other good causes. Wearing a white poppy shows your commitment to a future where humans learn to resolve conflicts without violence.

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The Grade 5s at Queen of Angels school raised more than $300 for the food bank. (submitted)
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From left: Denzel, Josh, Cayman, Parker, Alexander, Terrance (at back) and Landon were happy to create the white poppies to remember all the victims of war. (submitted)
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The Garden House Foundation book sale raised more than $12,000 for local charities. (Andrew Nixon/Black Press)
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Mayor Jon Lefebure joined the Baha’is community as they planted two walnut trees to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Birth of their Prophet Founder, Baha’u’llah. (submitted)