SOS connecting community campaign

Society of Organized Services

For 57 years, SOS has helped ease isolation and build community by connecting people of all ages to programs that support their well-being. One crucial way we have been ensuring reliable and safe access to our programs is through the use of the SOS bus. Unfortunately, our bus has reached the end of the road.

The SOS Connecting Community Campaign aims to connect our community to SOS programs with a new, reliable bus.

Thanks to a generous grant, we’ve secured more than half the funding for a new SOS bus. The goal is to raise $200,000 to secure a reliable bus to help people continue accessing our programs and services.

Our bus provides transportation to various SOS programs. Through the Oceanside Better at Home program, our bus picks up seniors at their homes, takes them grocery shopping with the help of volunteers, and returns them home.

We also pick up children from local schools and transport them to our Kids Movement program, where they can socialize, play games, and enjoy wholesome food. The bus is also used for special outings during our Family Night, School Night Out, and Youth Open Space programs. Participants have had the opportunity to visit local venues like the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre, they have gone mini golfing, picked pumpkins for carving at Silver Meadow Farms and they have learned about animals at Hamilton Hobby Farm and Butterfly World, among other exciting activities.

Click here to donate now

Alternatively, call us at 250-248-2093 to make a donation over the phone,
or come into our Community Services Centre to make your donation (245 Hirst Ave. W., Parksville).

Thank you!

More information on the old and the new bus:

Last year, our bus required repairs due to problems with the door opening mechanism. The mechanics discovered that the motor for the door was customized and discontinued, making future repairs increasingly difficult and costly. They explained that the motor functioning would not last more than two years. Because of this and the fact that our aging bus was starting to show several other signs of wear and tear, we needed to make a decision. Given this advice and the critical role our bus plays in our operations, we felt it was imperative to start looking at replacing the bus immediately.

After much research, we decided to purchase a new Chevrolet Arboc SOF (low floor ramp bus). The new vehicle can accommodate up to 17 passengers and some seats can be converted, providing more flexibility to meet our transportation needs. By investing in this new bus, we will be able to enhance the accessibility, reliability, and overall quality of our transportation.

You might think that this is just a bus. But connecting with others is more important than ever before. You see, research shows us that social connection can lower anxiety and depression, help us regulate our emotions, lead to higher self-esteem and empathy, and actually improve our immune systems. And this is something that residents of all ages can benefit from. Please support this campaign with whatever amount is meaningful to you.