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Fundraiser to help replace stolen school quake stash

A fundraiser this Saturday will attempt to replenish earthquake supplies stolen from the Quamichan Campus of Cowichan Secondary School

A fundraiser this Saturday will attempt to replenish earthquake supplies stolen from the Quamichan Campus of Cowichan Secondary School late last year while promoting earthquake preparation for all Valley residents.

Inspired after seeing a story in the Citizen about the theft of supplies from a shipping container located behind the school, Cowichan Sound & Cellular on Canada Avenue is holding a fundraising barbecue to help replace the items.

“This Stuff the Earthquake Trailer Fundraiser all began at a Cowichan Sound & Cellular staff meeting,” business owner Corinne de Lange related. “As a local business we like to give where we live, so when the theft came up as a possible cause for the business to support, all the staff were in favour.”

Cowichan Sound & Cellular met with school staff, and realized that they could do more for earthquake preparedness than just restock the trailer.

“The event just grew when the CVRD Earthquake Preparedness Division, Hatton Insurance and Save On Foods all agreed to participate with everything from information for the public about what to expect and how to prepare, earthquake insurance information and earthquake kits that will be on site for purchase, and Save On Foods with supporting the barbecue with product to raise funds to replace items taken from the trailer,” de Lange said. “We’re hoping the public will stop by our Canada Avenue location to support the students with lunch from the barbecue, gain information on earthquake preparedness and after, or drop off a cash donation.”

The school will issue tax receipts for donations of more than $20. Once the trailer is restocked, any leftover funds or supplies will go toward similar initiatives at other schools.

Very few schools in the area are as prepared as Quamichan was prior to the theft from the container. The supplies were initially provided by the Parent Advisory Committee at Mount Prevost Middle School, then moved to Quamichan when the school district was rearranged two years ago. The supplies would have allowed the school to take care of all students for 72 hours if an earthquake occurred.

“In light of the fact that we’re in a seismic zone, we have the responsibility to care for all the children in the school for an extended period of time, and at this point, we’re not able to do that,” Quamichan vice principal Scott Jackson said.

The fundraiser will take place this Saturday at Cowichan Sound & Cellular on Canada Avenue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.



Kevin Rothbauer

About the Author: Kevin Rothbauer

Kevin Rothbauer is the sports reporter for the Cowichan Valley Citizen
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