everyone deserves home

Thankful for Generous Response to COVID-19

March 25, 2020

Victoria – “During this crisis, Cool Aid is touched by the extreme compassion and generosity we are seeing everywhere,” said Victoria Cool Aid Society CEO Kathy Stinson.

Although we have had to ask our hard-working volunteers and generous donors to not visit our sites at this time, to reduce the spread of the virus, they have found other ways to help Cool Aid.

We have had a tremendous response to Cool Aid’s request to purchase grocery gift cards through our online shopping cart CoolAid.org/giftcards. Already, $11,270 has been raised which will put food directly in the hands of hundreds of vulnerable clients. Thrifty Foods Tuscany Village alone donated $1,000 in gift cards for the women of Sandy Merriman House emergency shelter.

Other financial donations are being received at a higher rate than experienced other years at this time – and we are grateful for the extra help as needs are significant.

“Words cannot express how helpful the huge, $150,000 donation Cool Aid has received, as a result of the Rapid Relief Fund, coordinated by Victoria Foundation, Jawl Foundation and the Times Colonist,” said Kathy Stinson. “Thank you so very much to everyone who is contributing to this emergency fund and to the organizations behind it.”

The $150,000 Cool Aid has received will be used to purchase:

  • Urgently needed medical supplies such as N95 masks, PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and hand sanitizer
  • Nutritious food for tenants and clients not living in shelters or seniors housing, where some meals are routinely provided
  • Additional staff support
  • Additional grocery and phone cards for tenants and clients

Governments are also making tremendous efforts at this time to help people who are homeless and vulnerable. Cool Aid thanks its partners in the City of Victoria, Capital Regional District, BC Housing, Island Health and the Provincial Government and Federal Government.

“Governments are taking fast and appropriate action to help our clients and save lives,” said Stinson, “We are very fortunate that they have stepped up to the plate in so many major ways.”

Cool Aid also wants to acknowledge our incredibly dedicated staff: the health care professionals at our community health centre, our front-line shelter and housing workers, the folks behind the scenes who keep the infrastructure and processes functioning; and our management and leadership teams who are doing their best to support all of them in this challenging time.

“I know that the Cool Aid board is fully behind me when I say that our clients and our community are fortunate for the care and compassion that all of these amazing individuals continue to offer, day in and day out,” said Kathy Stinson.

“Cool Aid could not get through this emergency without the solid support of staff, donors and volunteers, businesses, foundations and governments,” she concluded.

“Thank you all. Let’s continue to take care of one another.”

Visit CoolAid.org/covid to see how Cool Aid is responding to COVID-19. It is updated frequently.

– END –

 

Information:              CoolAid.org/covid   

Kathy Stinson, CEO, Cool Aid, kstinson@CoolAid.org

Rob Janus, Director of Communications, Victoria Foundation, rjanus@victoriafoundation.bc.ca, 250-381-5532

 

The Victoria Cool Aid Society believes that everyone deserves home. We create opportunities for people who are homeless or living in poverty. We make a difference through housing, health care, support and emergency shelters. Founded in 1968, Cool Aid helps 12,000 people in the Capital Region every year, at 19 locations in Victoria, Saanich and Langford.