The Central Vancouver Island Crime Stoppers has donated just more than $5,000 to the Oceanside Victim Services.
The funds, according to CVICS president Brian Cornborough, came from their annual annual paper/document shredding event, held once a year in September.
"They needed some operating money, for some equipment, so we just get at it and we said, 'we're going to donate this money from this event to them,'" said Cornborough.
A giant replica cheque was presented to members of the Oceanside Victims Services on Thursday morning, Nov. 7, at the Oceanside RCMP Detachment where it is based.
The OVS provides emotional and practical support to victims of crime and trauma in the Oceanside area. Victims, witnesses and family members are given support to lessen the impact of crime/trauma and to assist in their recovery. The donation the OVS received from Crime Stoppers will enhance its ability to provide meaningful support to those impacted by crime and trauma.
"They're victims as a result of a crime and our mandate is to reduce crimes," Cornborough said. "So, the more we can educate and make those people happy, who have been subject to a crime, the better off the community is."
Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization that is growing in the Central Vancouver Island. It now encompasses a larger area, from Tofino to Mill Bay and from coast to coast on the Island.
"We have a big area now," said Cornborough. "We have now taken over the smaller detachments that don't have volunteers to run Crime Stoppers program. We're doing that. We're reaching out to the Duncans, the Tofinos."
The funds generated from shredding day events in Nanaimo are donated to various groups each year. Cornborough said they would like to eventually hold the shredding day event twice a year.
"It's held in Nanaimo only because that's a bigger centre for us," said Cornborough.
For more information about Crime Stoppers you can visit their website at www.cvicrimestoppers.com.Tips can be submitted through the website or by calling 1-800-222-8477.
If you are interested in joining the Crime Stoppers program, you an also reach out to Cornborough at bcornborough@shaw.ca.
