For 54 years, SOS has been the social safety net for our community. From our humble beginnings establishing our first modest Thrift Shop in Parksville, we were able to make a considerable impact in our community. Working with an army of dedicated volunteers, staff began to develop

programs and services for low-income and other vulnerable residents in the Parksville Qualicum Beach region.

Over the decades we have been able to fund the majority of our work through Thrift Shop revenues. Of course, that all changed when the pandemic hit, and we needed to adapt.

The pandemic has not only taken a heavy toll on residents of our community, it has also strained our resources. SOS Operation Renewal is our 2022 campaign to raise stable funding so that we are better equipped to deal with the challenges of the future.

Over the next eight months, you will hear a lot more about this important campaign and the impact your support is having on meeting the needs of local residents.

You will learn about how SOS programs and services ensure that residents of all ages have access and supports for strengthening their resilience and mental health.

You will hear from vulnerable seniors about why SOS programs and services help them to age in place comfortably.

You will also learn more about why investing in SOS programs that help improve the financial stability of low-income adults and families is good for our community.

Hopefully you will learn more about why your contribution matters.

You see as much as we might not want to admit it, the pandemic caused many things to change in our community.  And with the rising cost of basic necessities like food, housing and gas, more residents who were already at risk of poverty are being pulled further away from financial security.  That means that a strong social safety net for vulnerable residents is more important that ever.  And we simply must be better prepared for what is yet to come!

Throughout the year, you will be asked to support SOS Operation Renewal with a cash donation of whatever size – every dollar counts!

You will be encouraged to donate other assets such as stocks and securities or include SOS in your estate planning through our SOS Legacy Stewards program.

We will ask that you or your group host a community fundraiser for us through our SOS Groups for Good program.

If you own a business, we will invite you to become a partner in our SOS Biz for Good program.

And we also encourage you to join our monthly giving program Grateful Hearts Circle so that we can count on sustainable funding to deliver our programs every month of the year.

We believe it’s time to turn the corner with a vision of renewal and growth for our community.
SOS Operation Renewal represents that vision.

By looking forward and working together, we can bring much needed optimism and hope for a future that includes a social safety net strong enough to weather any storm.

To make a donation or learn more about the campaign, click here 

With our grateful hearts,

Susanna Newton

Executive Director

P.S. Our future starts with what we plant today.  Let’s get planting!