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Reflections on an uplifting Christmas Fund season

Published 12:55 PST, Mon January 13, 2025
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Looking to the future, Richmond Christmas Fund returns to its roots
This past year, the Richmond Christmas Fund helped brighten the holidays for 1,303 of our neighbours in need, including nearly 550 children and youth.
It was a year of recalibration—of considering the program's mission and purpose, and how we can do the most good when space, time, and resources are limited.
We made a difficult decision, acknowledging that the Christmas Fund, if it's to remain sustainable, cannot help everyone who needs it. What we can do, however—what we promise to always do—is help those who need it most.
In 2024, the people who accessed the Christmas Fund demonstrated significant financial hardship. Without support, they wouldn't have had a holiday celebration: no toys, no gifts, no festive meal. The Christmas Fund was their last resort, their saving grace, their holiday miracle. The help they received made a meaningful difference, and is something they'll remember forever.
The past few years have been difficult for everyone: the pandemic, inflation, economic uncertainty. At the Christmas Fund, we tried our best to keep up with the need, as our service numbers increased by double-digit percentages from one holiday season to the next. Thanks to remarkable community support, we were able to rise to the challenge and meet the demand.
Ultimately, though, we saw no end in sight for the upward trend, and it was unrealistic—and unfair to our donors—to keep chasing it. The Christmas Fund began over 90 years ago as a grassroots, community-based program to help residents struggling during the Great Depression. The program has grown immensely in the decades since, but this past year, we paused to ask: is the goal to keep growing, or to keep helping? We knew we couldn't do both, and we knew the answer.
2024 saw a smaller Christmas Fund, but a more sustainable one. It was a program that helped—truly helped—1,303 people share in the holiday spirit. That accomplishment is no small thing, and it was made possible, like always, by Richmond’s open-hearted generosity.
There are so many directions in which to extend our gratitude: towards every volunteer and every donor; towards the organizers of major events, from the Richmond RCMP Toy Drive to Steveston Beer Fest; and towards the leaders of long-running fundraising campaigns, like the Realtor Challenge and Windows of Hope.
But above all, we’re grateful for the opportunity to bring the Christmas Fund back to its roots, where the focus is on offering targeted, meaningful support to those who will benefit most. It’s how the Christmas Fund can make the greatest difference, and how, together with our volunteers and donors, we’ll continue brightening the holidays for years to come.
Christmas Fund beneficiary experiences full-circle moment
As a settlement worker supporting newcomers and refugees, Jane Malificiar used to help clients access the Richmond Christmas Fund. After the pandemic, though, things changed. Despite returning to school and obtaining her social worker certification, she's had trouble finding employment.
This past year, for the first time, Jane turned to the Christmas Fund for help, calling it "a full-circle moment."
But she doesn't plan on going in circles herself. She's optimistic that, if she keeps applying for jobs, she'll get through this rough patch and onto better things. "As long as I am capable and I'm healthy, I can make things work."
Rotary Club of Richmond makes annual Christmas Fund donation
In recent years, a tradition has developed between RCRG and the Rotary Club of Richmond: dim sum and a donation. That tradition continued in 2024, when, at Continental Seafood Restaurant, Club members presented Ed Gavsie, president & chief executive officer of RCRG, with a $3,100 gift in support of the Richmond Christmas Fund.
The photo was taken between generous servings of shrimp dumplings and barbeque pork buns. Most generous of all, however, is the Rotary Club itself, whose tradition of giving has brightened the holidays for so many of our neighbours in need.
In this volunteer role, every day feels like ‘Caturday’
A new year is here, and hopefully, one of your resolutions is to get out and volunteer. There are countless opportunities throughout Richmond, but why not start at the beginning of the alphabet—with animals.
The Regional Animal Protection Society is seeking volunteers for its Adoption Centre. In the role, for which morning and evening shifts are available, you'll provide temporary care for cats, kittens, and other small animals until they find their forever home.
Tasks include cleaning cages, scooping litter, washing dishes, and—let's call this one a perk rather than a task—hanging out with the Adoption Centre's furry residents!
If you're an animal lover, and at least 17 years of age, this position is the 'purrfect' way to begin your volunteer journey.