I love that I can dedicate my weekly column to so much good news and so many good deeds stemming from our business community. 91原创 is a very generous and giving community, for which it should be proud.

I want to spotlight just a few things that have or are going to be happening in the coming days.

First up, Save-On-Foods 鈥� which is headquartered here in 91原创 鈥� just announced a $2.1-million gift to the BC Children鈥檚 Hospital. The money was presented at the Miracle Weekend Telethon 鈥� bringing the tally during the past 30 years to $30 million for the cause. Wow!

This year鈥檚 total represents another year of successful fundraising through their store-led initiatives, such as barbecues, hotdog sales, and pie throwing; as well as corporate initiatives, including the Round Up for Kids campaign, where customers can round up their bill to the nearest dollar and donate the difference, and the Save-On-Foods Charity Golf Tournament, which raised $613,831 in one day, said Save-On-Foods president Darrell Jones.

鈥淓very year I am inspired by the outstanding support Save-On-Foods team members, customers, suppliers and business partners show for BC Children鈥檚 Hospital,鈥� said Jones.

鈥淏ecause of the Save-On-Foods community, our company is able to donate millions of dollars to this amazing organization and help children and families from across the province get the care they need. I am so grateful for the heart our people put into fundraising and am so proud to present this cheque on behalf of all of them,鈥� he added.

.

Helping send kids to camp

Speaking of kids and charities, there鈥檚 a way to parlay that morning coffee craving today (Wednesday, June 5) into a way to help local, disadvantaged children.

It鈥檚 time for Timmy鈥檚 annual Camp Day, where 100 per cent of every coffee purchased goes towards sending youth 鈥� aged 12 to 16 鈥� to one of the seven Tims Camps.

I like the campaign slogan: Buy a coffee. Change a life. I鈥檝e personally talked to a few 91原创 kids through the years who have grown and developed thanks to attending one of the camps. They can attest to the fact that camp definitely changed their lives for the better.

Most of us need our daily caffeine fix, anyway. Why not fulfill that need and give the kids a hand? There鈥檚 also other ways to help 鈥� ask about their Camp Day bracelets on sale now for $2 each.

During the past 45 years, Timmy鈥檚 has helped give 275,000 youth a chance to change their future 鈥� but they can鈥檛 do this alone, said Tim Hortons president Alex Macedo, asking people to help out.

鈥淐amp Day is as much a part of Tim Hortons as our Double Double is,鈥� Macedo added.

鈥淚n 2018, our guests helped us donate more than $13.1 million on Camp Day and this year I hope we can exceed this to help even more youth change their stories.鈥�

.

When the staff 91原创 location get a hold of water balloons...all in the name of the . Thank you for your generosity and including us in the fun! 鈽猴笍

鈥� 91原创 Youth Hub (@langleyyouthhub)

Combating youth homelessness

Also underway this month, 91原创鈥檚 Home Depot is helping out Encompass Support Services Society (formerly Aldergrove Neighbourhood Services Society) in its efforts to assist at-risk and homeless youth in our town.

Until June 23, customers who make a $2 donation at The Home Depot Canada 91原创 store will contribute to Encompass鈥檚 efforts.

Encompass is the organization that runs the 91原创 Youth Hub, a resource centre in Willowbrook for local teens (that including those who are homeless).

鈥淎s one of the fastest-growing segments of the homeless population in Canada, youth homelessness is an urgent and complex issue,鈥� said Pam O鈥橰ourke, chair, board of directors, The Home Depot Canada Foundation and vice president of merchandising for Home Depot Canada.

鈥淲e are working together, with our community partners, to help truly understand and address the unique needs of at-risk and homeless youth, so we can help end this cycle. That is why 100 per cent of every customer donation goes directly to helping local youth,鈥� she added.

The 91原创 store is hosting its month-long Orange Door Project fundraising campaign right now, and local donations will stay locally.