New Westies have several ways they can contribute to the betterment of the community this weekend.
Several non-profits, the city and a local business are inviting community members to attend events – giving folks a chance to support a variety of community initiatives. Here’s a look at five things you can do this weekend to contribute to the community.
New Westminster Firefighters’ Charitable Society
The New Westminster Firefighters’ Charitable Society’s annual shred-athon is on Saturday, June 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at New Westminster City Hall. It’s a drive-thru event, so you just need to open your trunk and let the firefighters empty out your bin of papers for shredding. All paperwork will be shredded on-site. This by-donation event raises money for the charitable society, which uses those funds to support a wide variety of community and non-profit organizations and events, including the lunch program at St. Barnabas Church, the Lower Mainland Purpose Society, the Volunteer Cancer Drivers program and the New Westminster Secondary School dry grad.
New Westminster Environmental Partners
New Westminster Environmental Partners, in cooperation with the City of New Westminster, is inviting community members of all ages and abilities to remove invasive species from Glenbrook Ravine. It’s happening on Saturday, June 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tools are provided. You don’t need to register to attend, by you will need to sign a waiver.
Westminster House
Westminster House Society is hosting its signature Clean-Up New West event as a way of giving back to the community that’s supported its recovery programs for women and children for four decades. Taking place on Sunday, June 26, the citywide clean-up event gives community members, alumnae and clients a chance to come together and to beautify New West streets and parks. Volunteers will meet at Tipperary Park at 9 a.m. The event includes a community clean-up, prizes, live entertainment and more.
Plant a Row Grow a Row
The Plant a Row – Grow a Row program is holding its weekly food collection event, where it will collect produce (home-grown in your garden or store-bought) and donate it to local organizations supporting folks in need of food support, including the Union Gospel Mission in New West. You can drop off a donation on Sunday, June 26 (or any Sunday until Oct. 2) from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. at St Thomas More Collegiate, 7450 12th Ave., which is just across the border in Burnaby.
JAK’s Gives Back
JAK’s Beer Wine & Spirits is kicking off the “summer sipping season” by raising funds for food banks. As part of its fourth annual JAK’s Gives Back event, the local store will be donating 10 per cent of the sales on Saturday, June 25 to food banks. All of JAK’s 13 stores are taking part in the campaign, including the store at 517 Seventh St. in uptown New West. The Greater Vancouver Food Bank, which supports folks in New West, has seen a significant increase in the number of new clients using the food bank in recent months.
Follow Theresa McManus on Twitter @TheresaMcManus
Email [email protected]
