Today marks the start of our annual fundraising campaign to help those in need in our community.

The goal of this year’s Times Colonist Christmas Fund is to exceed the $1.12 million our readers donated last year.

A goal of $1 million or more will always seem like a stretch, but this fund matters. The more money we raise, the more people we can help.

I have been writing articles about the Times Colonist Christmas Fund for many years. I have seen the fund change to meet changing needs, and it continues to evolve. But I’ve never seen the level of need that I’m seeing this year.

Through this fund, we support dozens of community organizations in Greater Victoria and elsewhere on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

Representatives from several of these groups met last week to talk about the work they are doing and the problems they are seeing.

Think about the elderly who rely on food banks. Think about people who work two jobs and still can’t make ends meet, due to the high cost of housing and food. Think about teenagers who are fending for themselves without any of the supports we all take for granted.

Food security and housing are top priorities, but there are other concerns as well. People need clothing and hygiene products. They need help navigating the bureaucracy. Things that many of us take for granted seem impossible for people in need.

If we can lend a hand, if we can make a difference in the lives of our neighbors, the entire community will be a better place.

When our fund was established in 1956, the idea was to make the Christmas season a little warmer for those less fortunate, and we have stuck with the Christmas theme for decades.

The spirit of Christmas, after all, is about giving. It is easier to raise funds at this time of year.

But times have changed. It’s not just about Christmas. We cannot abandon those in need during the cold, dark days of January. There are people who need help all year round, and thanks to you, we can provide them with some of that help.

The Christmas Fund is one of the most important ways the Times Colonist serves the community. Our goal is to ensure that the money you donate is used in the most effective way possible. We want to offer as much help as possible.

To achieve this goal, the Times Colonist Christmas Fund Society – the charitable organization behind our fundraising – works with the local chapter of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, the Knights Hospitaller.

We share the belief that administrative costs should be kept as low as possible. To this end, the Times Colonist covers most of the fundraising costs, and Sovereign Order volunteers charge nothing for the extensive research they do to identify community groups that can make the best use of the fund. help we provide.

At some point, as a society, we will have to find viable solutions. The level of need simply cannot continue to increase every year. We must stop disappointing those who need help.

Finding these solutions will take time, and in the short term, our community members need all the help you can give.

It’s time to make a difference. It’s time to offer a helping hand.

THANKS.

Dave Obee is editor and publisher of the Times Colonist.
(email protected)

• You can donate by visiting the Times Colonist Christmas Fund webpage, tcchristmasfund.com. This page links to CanadaHelps, which is open 24 hours a day and provides an immediate tax receipt.

• Or mail a check to Times Colonist Christmas Fund, 201-655 Tyee Rd., Victoria, BC V9A 6X5.

• You can also use your credit card by calling 250-995-4438 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Friday.