Fire departments in District 69 are gearing up to fill their boots for food. On the weekend of Nov. 16 and Nov. 17, firefighters will be located throughout the Oceanside region collecting cash donations for the Salvation Army food bank.
Some departments will also accept donations at their fire halls that weekend. Parksville Fire will accept new unwrapped toys for the Society of Organized Services, according to a news release by the City of Parksville and the RDN.
Please check your local fire department’s website for collection details.
Information on collection by District 69 departments is provided below, however, residents should confirm arrangements with their local department. The first food drive was held in 1997 and now includes eight departments in District 69:
Bow Horn Bay Fire Department
The Bow Horn Bay Fire Department will accept donations at the Bow Horn Bay fire hall (220 Lions Way, Qualicum Beach) on Nov.16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Contact: Fire Chief Mark Taylor at 250-757-9433 or bhbfire@shaw.ca. Visit: bowhornbayvfd.ca
Coombs Hilliers Volunteer Fire Department
Members of the Coombs Hilliers Fire Department will collect door-to-door in the Whiskey Creek area on Nov. 16 and the Virginia Estates area on Nov. 17. Times are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Fire Station #2 at 3241 Alberni Highway will be open to accept donations between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Contact: Community Fire Chief Ron Schildroth at 250-752-2144 or rschildroth@rdn.bc.ca. Visit: rdn.bc.ca/coombs-hilliers-fire
Dashwood Volunteer Fire Department
Cash donations only will be accepted this year due to a lack of space to store food on Nov. 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Meadowood Store (1221 Meadowood Way). Cash donations will be accepted 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nov.12 to Nov. 15 and Nov.18 to Nov. 22 (come into the trailer behind the tents).
Contact: Fire Chief Nick Acciavatti at 250-752-5434; firechief@dashwoodvfd.com. Visit: dashwoodvfd.com
Deep Bay Fire Department
On Nov. 16 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., the Deep Bay Fire Department will accept food and cash donations at the Deep Bay fire hall (5031 Mountainview Road, just off Gainsberg).
Contact: Rob Cottrell at 250-951-8300 or rwwcottrell@gmail.com. Visit: dbid.ca/fire-department
Errington Fire Department
Errington Fire Station #1 will collect cash, food and toy donations at the Co-op Gas Bar at the corner of Church Road and Alberni Highway (1401 Alberni Highway, Errington) on Saturday, November 16 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m..
Contact: Chief Steve Ternes at 250-248-5601 or chief@evfd.ca Visit: evfd.ca
Nanoose Volunteer Fire Department
On Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Nanoose firefighters and Nanoose Community Services volunteers will be at two locations, Springford Farm on Northwest Bay Road, and Quality Foods at the Red Gap Centre to collect cash and grocery gift card donations. Donations will go to Nanoose Community Services, a local charity assisting individuals and families challenged by poverty and food accessibility. Please note, cash and gift card donations only at these locations.
Contact: Chief Leo Groenewegen at 250-468-7141 or lgroenewegen@rdn.bc.ca. Visit: nanoosevfd.com
Parksville Volunteer Fire Department
Parksville firefighters will collect cash donations for the Salvation Army food bank at locations throughout Parksville on Nov. 16 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Nov. 17 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) - Wembley Mall (Save-on-Foods, Canadian Tire and BC Liquor Store), Corfield Plaza (Thrifty Foods), and Quality Foods. Donations of new unwrapped toys will also be accepted for the Society of Organized Services.
Contact: Senior Firefighter Liam Robinson at 250-248-3242 or firedept@parksville.ca. Visit: parksvillefirerescue.ca
Qualicum Beach Fire Department
On Nov. 16 and Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Qualicum Beach firefighters will accept cash donations at the fire hall (130 Rupert Rd. East), outside Qualicum Foods (705 Memorial Ave.) and the Qualicum Beach BC Liquor Store (706 Primrose St.).
Contact: Deputy Fire Chief Friso McKenzie at 250-752-6232 or fmckenzie@qualicumbeach.com Visit: qbfirerescue.com
Donations are extremely important to the Salvation Army food bank and SOS to provide for the less fortunate in the community. Donations may also be made as follows:
• Salvation Army food bank donations are accepted at 886 Wembley Rd. - Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed noon to 1 p.m.); Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to noon;
• SOS is gratefully accepting donations for its Caring for Community at Christmas program. The program provides special gifts for local children and youth and grocery store gift cards are provided to families, adults and seniors so they may choose food meaningful to them over the holidays;
Financial donations can be made online at sosd69.com, in person or by phone (250-248-2093), Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. New, unwrapped gifts may be dropped off during the same hours at the SOS Community Services Centre in Parksville (245 Hirst Ave. West) and at Qualicum Commons (744 Primrose St., Qualicum Beach).
