The weather was perfect last Saturday for the first Tsawwassen Outdoor Movie Night of the season at Diefenbaker Park.
Along with many other community businesses, Reach Child and Youth Development Society was there with information and activities for kids to enjoy. Reach is an organization that has been providing services to children with special needs since 1959, and is now raising money to build a new centre in Ladner.
This year, the Tsawwassen Business Improvement Association, along with its partnering community service groups, Kiwanis, Lions, TOOBs and Rotary, chose Reach to be the charity of choice to receive all proceeds from concession and popcorn sales at all four movie nights.
"The Tsawwassen Outdoor Movie Nights are really great events for us to be part of," says Reach communications director Cathy Nidoski. "Not only do we raise funds for the building of the new centre, but we also get the opportunity to meet and talk face-toface with families who may never have heard about Reach before, share information about what kind of services and resources are available to them, and let them know about the project to build the new centre."
The centre will be larger and easier to access than the current Reach centre. It will allow more children and youth with special needs the opportunity to receive services at critical times when they are needed.
"Research has shown that access to ample and timely disability supports is the most important element in ensuring that people with intellectual disabilities live inclusive and meaningful lives in the community," said Nidoski.
"That's why we are building this new centre. To remove those barriers to access and get services to children when they need them."
The land for the new centre, which is currently the home of the Ladner Tsawwassen Kinsmen Club, has been provided by the Corporation of Delta and is valued in excess of $1 million. Reach must raise another $4 million to build the centre
In addition to receiving concession and popcorn proceeds, Reach is raising money for the new centre at movie nights with a 50/50 draw each night.
It is also taking donations and appealing to people to sign up for the 20/20 Vision to pledge $20 a month for 20 months towards the new centre.
The remaining movie nights will take place Aug. 6 and 20 and Sept. 4. Activities start at 6: 30 p.m. and the movie starts when the sun goes down.
For more information about Tsawwassen Outdoor Movie Nights, visit www. shoptsawwassen.com. For more about Reach call 604-946-6622 or visit www. reachdevelopment.org.
