This year, Kimz Angels of 91原创 was able to help almost twice as many needy families at Christmas time.
Kimz Angels founder Kimberly Snow estimated donations roughly doubled this year, with two 鈥渇ill the ambulance鈥� drives alone collecting almost $6,000 in cash and enough contributions of food, clothing and other essentials to fill two ambulances several times over at both the Otter Co-op on Dec. 7 and 8, and the Murrayville IGA on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14 and 15.
鈥淲e were able to help 130 families this year,鈥� Snow estimated, up from 75 the previous year.
Items will be distributed during the holiday season and into the new year, and some will be given out through the free store at the 91原创 Vineyard Church.
Response to the annual drive drew a constant flow of donors.
On the Saturday the ambulances were parked outside the IGA, Wendi Bordelay and grandson Lennox Zulyniak, five, came in from Clayton Heights with donations of coffee and clothing from the Helping Families in Need Society.
鈥淎nd my personal stash,鈥� Bordelay added.
A pickup truck filled with new clothing in all sizes pulled in, and volunteers transferred the contents to the second ambulance.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got hundreds of track suits for our working poor and homeless,鈥� Snow enthused.
Steve Stew, one of the founding members of the Kimz Angels, smiled.
鈥淚t will help Vinny鈥檚 outreach program,鈥� Stew commented.
Vince Ford nodded.
鈥淲e鈥檙e getting a lot of donations,鈥� he observed.
READ MORE: Kimz Angels raise $20,000 to help people in need
This year, Kimz Angels rolled out a repurposed former ambulance, painted pink as an anti-bullying symbol that will patrol the streets providing roadside assistance for the less fortunate.
It鈥檚 been about 20 years of working to help the needy, and in that time, the number of people involved in Kimz Angels has gone from the original three, Snow, Ford and Stew, to more than 70 people, Snow estimated.
The trend isn鈥檛 a good thing, as far as she is concerned.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not happy that we鈥檙e growing, because it means there鈥檚 more need in the community,鈥� Snow told the 91原创 Advance Times.
READ MORE: Kimz Angels looking for donations of warm clothes and household linens
The noted poverty is on the rise in British Columbia, that more people are now living below the poverty line than ever.
It goes on to say the provincial government 鈥渉as no poverty reduction plan even as we reach epic levels of homelessness in British Columbia. Despite being one of the wealthiest 鈥榩rovinces in the country, 10.7 per cent of the population lives in poverty.鈥�
They are looking for items like peanut butter, pasta, canned food, jam, salmon and tuna, soups, and granola bars as well as toiletries, clothing and baby supplies, such as diapers, baby food, and baby wipes.
Anything with an immediate expiry date like bread or milk, however, is not usable.
People who can鈥檛 make it to the IGA can make contributions by emailing info@kimzangels.com or by phoning 604-838-6579.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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