The Delta Firefighters Charitable Society is giving back in a big way this holiday season.
During the past few weeks, the society has been donating funds from its successful Harvest Festival in September in an initiative called the Delta Firefighters Charitable Society Five Days of Giving.
Five organizations in Delta are the beneficiaries of the goodwill, including Reach Child & Youth Development Society ($25,000), Delta Hospice Society for its Blue Skies Project in support of children and youth dealing with the loss of a loved one and youth bereavement programing ($20,000), Deltassist for its community Christmas programs ($10,000), BC & Alberta Guide Dogs to help train autism support dogs ($10,000) and Pony Pals Therapeutic Riding Association to support five children for a one-year therapy riding program ($12,000).
Society president John Burr and vice president Kristy Storey said the decision was made earlier this year that all the money from this year’s Harvest Fest would be directed to support organizations that help children and their families in Delta.
“We fundraise local and we want to support local,” said Storey. “We want to support local families and local youth.”
Burr said supporting local has been the mandate of the society since its inception in 1994. To date more than $12.5 million has been raised and donated back to the community.
“There are others. We donate to the Burn Fund, Variety, we do outside of Delta, but I would say we donate about 90 per cent within Delta,” said Burr. “We also do a lot of other community initiatives where needed as well.”
Storey said the society wouldn’t be able to make the donations without the support of the community.
“All of Delta provides us with a lot of support. Harvest Festival is our biggest event of the year and to be able to give like this is truly special,” she said.
There are 190 members of the Delta Fire Department involved with the charitable society, including 12 members who sit on a board of directors to oversee the charitable efforts.
