Victoria Cool Aid Society
749 Pandora Ave # 101 V8W 1N9 Victoria, BC, Canada

Thank you Crag X Climbing Gym for your donation!! Your gift helps us help those most in need in our community. It's caring, local businesses like yours that make a difference! #communityyyj #givingback #communitysupport #yyj

This one is for our local running community participating in the TC10K Virtual Race in April there is an option to donate to Cool Aid's Every Step Counts program Make your run more meaningful with a donation to this community program, which provides a healthy and inclusive chance for neighbours to get out and get some exercise. All donations raised will go towards improving the program and its return (once it is safe, of course!). Thank you TC10K for including the Every Step Counts program within the donation opportunity! To donate, please visit https://raceroster.com//202/fundraising-organization/23565. Brynn Feather Visuals

Just a quick announcement that one of the contributors to the Cool Aid facebook page is retiring... That would be me, Alan Rycroft, who is moving on after a wonderful 15 years at Cool Aid. Thank you everyone here for the great dialogue and sharing. We will all continue our work to end chronic homelessness and ensure everyone has what they need.... Take care everyone! Facebook love to all!

A huge Thank You to Eddie Bauer for coming through with a donation of warm coats for our shelter guests and clients! We are so grateful for your generous community support and for helping us keep people warm. #wintercoatdrive #keepingpeoplewarm #givingbackyyj

"I literally had to leave the province I went through decades, like decades, of abuse. And the last part of it there, it was horrible. And I knew the last time the last incident happened that I had to get out because I felt that the next time it was going to be it.... I’m serious. So, you know, this has been a heck of a journey. You have all of these things and a beautiful home, racehorses, you worked hard for what you had in your life, and you have to leave it. You have to... leave it... Being able to get counseling through Cool Aid has been a wonderful thing. We’re not allowed to see the counselors face-to-face, but we are able to do the telephone thing. Next Steps is an amazing place. That’s how I think about it I’m on the next step of this journey of healing, and then having belief in myself because I used to be such a strong person inside." After years of traumatic abuse, this Cool Aid resident found safety in our programming and shelters. With counseling services and a safe place to live, Holly* has been able to unpack her experiences and have some of her fear alleviated. It is an honor to be able to help people like Holly leave harmful living environments and receive the proper care and attention they need and deserve. When you support Cool Aid, you directly improve the lives of individuals like Holly, helping them heal and giving them a chance at a new life. Brynn Feather Visuals *Different names used to preserve and respect the privacy of the client.

Tis the season to be jolly! The Cool Aid staff got creative this holiday and dressed their masks up with some festive cheer Let us know which one is your favorite in the comments below!

A huge shout out to CHEK News' Upside Segment and SeaFirst Insurance for a very generous $10,000 cheque towards the Holiday Gifts campaign! Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for this donation. This time of year can be incredibly difficult for some, so to be able to light up someone's holiday is an incredible gift. We are never short of amazed at the compassion of our community members, especially this year. Happy holidays everyone! If you are looking to spread cheer to your neighbours this season, please consider a donation at https://coolaid.org/ways-to-help/donate/.

Looking for the perfect gift to give for the Holidays? How about a donation to Cool Aid! We can personalize this lovely card and email it to your loved ones and friends on your behalf. Please donate online and leave a message in the 'notes' indicating who the gift is for including their email address, or call us at 250-414-4793. Thank you for your support ! https://coolaid.org/ways-to-help/donate/ #perfectgift #communityspirit #helpingothers

As we build homes, lives, and community within the traditional territories of the Teechamitsa, Swengwhung, and Kosampson Nations of the Lekwungen and WSÁNE Peoples, it is a priority of Cool Aid to honor the Indigenous land and culture. As a result, Cool Aid staff has received mandatory Indigenous Cultural Training to help them better understand and serve hundreds of Indigenous clients. On top of this, we also raised $600,000 to use over the next three years to further Indigenize the organization and provide cultural programs for Indigenous tenants and shelter guests, such as arts, food, nature trips, talking circles, and Elder support.

Thank you to this lovely tenant for dropping off this "sweet" treat for our staff at Mount Edwards Court! We are grateful to work with our clients and provide them with the proper care they need and deserve If you are in the spirit of giving, check out our Everyone Deserves Joy Online Shopping Cart: https://coolaid.org/ways-to-help/everyone-deserves-joy/

The holidays aren't just for putting smiles on your loved one's faces spread holiday cheer to your neighbours this year! Cool Aid has some great opportunities this season to give back to the community and share joy: Provide a grocery gift card Donate any new or lightly-worn winter items to the 13th Annual Casual Labour Pool Winter Coat Drive Sponsor a feast at the Rock Bay Landing Emergency Shelter... Gift a piece of art handcrafted by a client for double the impact! Link in bio for more information on all of these causes and to make someone's holiday! Brynn Feather Visuals

We received a big box of these cute, warm and cozy socks to give out to people in need! Thanks to Island Pet Source Langford for your donation and for showing our clients that our community cares! #communityyyj #yyjcares

At this time, we want to ensure that we continue to support our local economy and the well-being of our community members. If you or someone you know is looking for work, the Cool Aid Casual Labour Pool is here to connect you with employers and opportunities for hire. From clean-up to office help, moving and more, there are a variety of options that will best suit your skills abilities. To learn more about the Labour Pool and opportunities, please visit http://coolaid.org/labour.

A Huge Thank You to our friends at AFL: We connect. for their donation of cloth face masks for Rock Bay Landing shelter! It is people like you, stepping up to ensure the most vulnerable among us are taken care of, that gives us hope. #community #communitygivingyyj

Job Posting! RN needed at Cool Aid's Health Centre- This is a unique opportunity to work within an innovative not-for-profit, in an environment that is committed to promoting continuous learning, creativity and collaboration.http://coolaid.org/health https://coolaid.org/jobs https://bit.ly/34zOh3g #jobposting #jobsyyj #rnjobs #nonprofitjobs

13th ANNUAL LABOUR POOL'S WINTER COAT DRIVE is happening December 16 - January 15th ! Please make an appointment to drop off your bagged and cleaned items. Thank you for helping us keep people warm this Winter! Victoria Cool Aid Society #wintercoatdrive #communitygiving

Say cheese Barry is donning some sparkling new dentures that he recently got from the Cool Aid Dental Clinic! Healthy teeth and gums are so critical to the health and well-being of an individual, enhancing confidence and the ability to find housing and work. We are grateful to be able to provide a safe and friendly environment with a dedicated group of full-time dental professionals who take pride in making a difference in the dental health of those that may not have had regular dental care due to barriers to accessing dental services. To learn more about what Community Health Services Cool Aid offers, visit our website: https://coolaid.org/how-we-help/health-services/

Our friends at Peninsula Co-op are helping us get into the holiday spirit with the Festival of Trees As a safe outing that people can enjoy at their leisure (and socially distanced), it is a great way to show support to the community. Cool Aid was asked to help decorate the Peninsula Co-op tree with crafted ornaments in order to help reflect the wonderful community that Peninsula (and Cool Aid!) are connected to. We are so happy to see our clients get creative! Just look at this beautiful ornament from one of our residents We are grateful to be able to come together in such strange times.

Happy National Philanthropy Day! Cool Aid Society is so appreciative to be included on this year's Giving Hearts Honour Roll presented by Coast Capital Savings in honour of National Philanthropy Day (NDP). Every year, NPD on Vancouver Island celebrates the generosity of our community and the philanthropic sector. Due to the circumstances of 2020, NPD looked a little different this year. Instead of an award ceremony, the Giving Hearts Honour Roll celebrates the outstanding ac...ts of individuals, nonprofits, organizations, businesses and community groups that have responded to the unprecedented need in our community in unique and generous ways. Thank you to Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) - Vancouver Island and to the thoughtful individuals who nominated Cool Aid! To see what other organizations made it on the Honour Roll, visit https://www.npdvictoria.com/npd-celebration.

What a great idea! Looking forward to hearing everyone's ideas on how we can help people and make our community better for everyone.

Happy 10th birthday to our very own Rock Bay Landing Our main emergency shelter, this site has been pivotal in terms of providing individuals with a place to stay and receive support. This location takes a multi-faceted approach to support clients with shelter and daily services. With 84 shelter beds and 23 transitional rooms for residents working to be permanently housed, it also offers storage, showers, laundry, computers, meals, and rooms for group work, education and counselling. Thank you so much to our wonderful staff from over the years and to all the volunteers and donors who helped keep our home at 535 Ellice St. strong To learn more about Cool Aid's Emergency Shelters and Transitional Housing, visit our website: https://coolaid.org//emergency-shelters-and-transitional-/

We are making great progress in our construction at 210 Gorge Road East! This redevelopment is bringing new life into an old Cool Aid property while the project is replacing the existing 21 supportive housing apartments with 21 brand new ones, it is also creating an additional 51 rental apartments for low-and middle-income individuals and families. Formerly Cedar Grove, this new building will accommodate a mix of tenants that will provide benefits to both the ambiance in the building and in the neighbourhood. While we expect occupancy to take place in 2022, we are so excited to be one step closer to ending homelessness in the Greater Victoria area. To learn more about the build, visit https://coolaid.org/210

We received a selection of Winter vegetable starts from the City of Victoria - Local Government through the Growing Together program! Thanks to the dedicated gardeners at the Beacon Hill Nursery, our clients are thrilled to be able to grow some nutritious veggies during the cold season! Please see here for more info about the Growing in the City program: https://www.victoria.ca//re/parks/growing-in-the-city.html . .... . . #yyj #growingtogether

URGENT We are pretty much out of donated PPE masks to give out to Cool Aid clients. While these are essential for their safety and our ability to care for them, we are kindly asking for the community to help us out with mask donations of any kind. These will be monumental in our efforts to protect clients and our staff as we continue to work during COVID-19. Please call ahead before dropping off items. 250-414-4799. https://coolaid.org/more-ways-to-give/#inkind

It’s official! Earlier last month we demolished the two old hotel buildings at 210 Gorge Road West (the old Cedar Grove) so we can construct a new apartment building. This project will add 51 new affordable apartments for people and families who can’t afford Victoria’s high rents. We are very excited for this new development, which is expected to be ready for occupancy in 2022. Stay tuned!

Are you in the mood to give back after Thanksgiving weekend? Consider donating a dinner to the Rock Bay Landing Emergency Shelter for a group of appreciative overnight guests. Donating an elevated dinner to people staying at a homeless shelter is a terrific way to lift spirits and show that you care, especially during the holiday season. A typical dinner at the Rock Bay Landing Emergency Shelter consists of a hearty pasta, chili or chicken dinner. But with your donation, the... kitchen can cook up an extra special meal. This is a huge treat for shelter guests, who will be so grateful for your kindness and generosity. You can choose from the following menu. The Cool Aid kitchen will order the ingredients to create an unforgettable feast: Slow Cooked Pork Ribs, Fries, Coleslaw ($350) Pork Tenderloin or Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Onion Rosemary Jus, Roasted Root Vegetables ($450) Pesto Salmon or Ling Cod, Rice Pilaf, Steamed Broccoli and Cauliflower ($550) To learn more about the meal share opportunities, please visit https://coolaid.org/ways-to-help/share-a-meal/. Brynn Feather Visuals

Thank you Country Grocer for promoting Cool Aid's Socks Campaign! Folks interested in learning more or making a donation can go to https://coolaid.org/socks.

I still can’t believe I’m getting a car. It’s going to make such a huge difference I can’t even wrap my head around it. I’m so grateful to Cool Aid. They’ve done so much for me and been so supportive over the years. Congratulations to Michelle Weir, the winner of our car giveaway with King's Auto Sales Ltd.! A single mother of three and former Cool Aid client, Michelle is immunocompromised and has been unable to work as a nurse's aid during COVID-19 as a result. The 2004 Chevrolet Malibu will enable her to seek other sources of income like housekeeping jobs, and be able to run errands and get groceries for her family without the reliance on transit. Article via CHEK News

Hot Topic Tuesday: B.C.’s top doctor says the province’s two public health emergencies the overdose crisis and COVID-19 pandemic continue to intersect in ways that are proving increasingly deadly. In an interview with Global News , provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry called for better access to a safe supply of drugs as the closure of international borders due to COVID-19 has led to an illicit drug supply that is increasingly toxic. What are your thoughts on Dr. B...onnie’s many recommendations? Watch the TV coverage: https://globalnews.ca//73/dr-bonnie-henry-overdose-crisis/ #hottopictuesday #drbonniehenry #overdosecrisis #publichealthemergency

"I’ve been on the streets for about 13 years. I’ve worked all my life and I was a mum and everything, but everything kind of fell apart. I had depression and I was all by myself out on the street so I couldn’t do it. I mean I didn’t know, I never been on the street before -- I didn’t know the resources to use, where to go, social, anything It was really hard. So this is incredible. Cool Aid and Our Place -- they went around to everyone, first they helped with tents and every...thing that was nice. It was a helping hand during a scary moment, right? But then when they came and were offering housing, it was amazing. I couldn’t believe it. I thought there had to be a catch, it can’t be right. When is it going to get taken away from us? Sometimes I feel like it’s too good to be true, but I just can’t think in the negative. Gotta stay in the positive. I got some backup and some people I can reach out to and they are all really nice people. I’m no lower or higher than anyone. It’s really nice actually." Victoria, a resident at the Comfort Inn across from Topaz Park, speaks on her experiences living at the hotel that was purchased by the province earlier this year. Brynn Feather Visuals

Hot Topic Tuesday: 2020 BC Election Campaign! British Columbians will elect their new provincial government on October 24th, 2020. There is no question that affordable housing and homelessness are amongst the top issues affecting voters. What are your thoughts on each party leader's campaign with regards to affordable housing? https://bcnpha.ca/make-housing-central-2020 Don't forget to vote! https://elections.bc.ca/ #electionsbc #votebc

Happy Thanksgiving to all This year has been one long reminder of what we are thankful for: our kind clients, generous donors, and compassionate staff. It is crazy to think this time last year we were working with local organizations to bring gorgeous turkey feasts like this to neighbours in-need! Today we celebrate our community and acknowledge our presence on Indigenous land. Brynn Feather Visuals

In a recent conversation with Victoria News, Cool Aid staff member Alan Rycroft spoke on our relationship with the BC SPCA (BCSPCA) and how grateful we are for their generous efforts to support our clients' well-beings: "They end up not just helping the animals have a more stable and consistent diet, but also greatly reduce the stress on pet owners who frequently have to spend money they don’t have to ensure their animals have the best life possible, he said. I’m sure any pet owner can empathize with the sleepless nights that come from worrying about a sick animal’s health or if you are hurting a pet by feeding them cheap food if that’s all you can afford. For those looking to contribute, BC SPCA offers a drop-in food bank that is available Wednesdays from 1 pm to 3pm.

This year, both World Homeless Day and World Mental Health Day fall on the same day. Mental health and secure housing go hand in hand when it comes to the well-being of any individual. At-risk of or experiencing poor conditions of either of these can have detrimental effects on a person, which is why we address both factors when helping clients. When you provide housing, you provide a resource that strengthens mental health and well-being. You also give these people an opportunity to be great neighbours and help cultivate a safe and vibrant community atmosphere. Mental health affects everyone, so let's eliminate the stigma and support one another by having healthy conversations.

Thank you First Met Victoria for your generous donation to Sandy Merriman House women's shelter! We are now the lucky owners of a beautiful new BBQ ! We also purchased some brand-new towels for the shelter and are asking our residents to put together a wish list for what art supplies the house would like to see - the residents love making art and are really looking forward to making the house look beautiful! Thank you for making a difference in our guest's lives! #communitygivingyyj #generosity #makingadifference #weloveart

Today marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. While Canada's poverty rate saw a historic low last year, there are still hundreds of thousands of Canadians living below the poverty line. Factors such as food insecurity, access to healthcare, literacy, and income largely play large roles in abundance for individuals. With COVID-19 also taking this year by storm, our communities are all especially vulnerable and need support. Cool Aid continues to work on long-term solutions to homelessness, poverty, and mental health challenges as we build more affordable and supportive housing as the foundation. #endpoverty

It's Mental Illness Awareness Week - let's talk about it. On average, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness. With the pressures of COVID-19 forcing more isolation and minimizing access to resources, our collective mental health is extremely vulnerable and this statistic could be even greater. Check in on your friends, loved ones, co-workers, acquaintances, and normalize the conversation on mental health. We also ask you to think about the individuals in your community who have the added stress of not having secure housing or food supply. It is okay to not be okay, and it is always okay to ask for support.

A Big Thank You to Islands West Produce for your donation of fresh, local produce to our Rock Bay Landing shelter! Local food is not only more nutritious, but it cuts down on the environmental costs of transportation, builds local food security, and keeps the dollars in the local community. Please see here for more info about food and nutrition services at Cool Aid: https://coolaid.org/food-and-nutrition/ #localproduce #nutritiousfoodforall #communitygiving #generosity #givingbackyyj

Thank you CHEK News for covering the car giveaway we hosted along with King's Auto Sales Ltd. last month! With over 70 applicants, we are so impressed at all of the deserving individuals in our community. We wish everyone could win! Stay tuned for more details.

This week is Homelessness Action Week in Vancouver and we are joining in on the conversation to raise awareness about the people in our community who face challenges every day due to a lack of housing security. In a report conducted by BC Housing, 7,655 individuals were identified as experiencing homelessness in 2018. While there have been many initiatives launched this year to provide temporary housing to people in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we need to take long-term approaches that prevent the spread of homelessness in our province. With winter just around the corner, we ask you to help us provide solutions and #buildhomes for our neighbours in need. Learn more at coolaid.org. Brynn Feather Visuals

The Rugby 7s Senior Women Canadian team stopped by the Next Steps Transitional Shelter to ensure they had everything they need for Thanksgiving! This Cool Aid location provides a more home-like environment for shelter guests making progress to get their lives back on track. Thank you, ladies, for thinking of our neighbours and helping out our community!

The City of Victoria has introduced new rules around camping in parks to help campers keep physical distance and reduce the total number of tents in each park. One result is that more parks will receive campers until indoor housing is available. What do you think? Is this a good idea? Got a better one? (please share) https://www.cheknews.ca/campers-moving-out-victorias-centr/... #HotTopicTuesday #buildhomes #yyj

"[Cool Aid] put a roof over my head, they kept me safe, and were there when I needed them. I've got security. I know nobody can harm me in this building, or hurt me. I'm safe. And that's the biggest part that Cool Aid does. They keep people safe." Hear the inspiring story of Heidi, a former Cool Aid resident, and how she overcame homelessness and drug use. She first came to us at Sandy Merriman and then to Mike Gidora Place. She is now living in her own home.

A huge Thank You to Nezza Naturals Inc. for their extremely generous donation of suds and scrubs! We were able to put together over 50 care packages benefiting folks from all walks of life- Some will be given to our Downtown Community Center to distribute, and some to one of our senior's buildings. The others will be handed out to people who come in for disability related appointments, to access the Community Casual Labour Pool, or for general support. Given that services are so limited these days, and we can’t welcome guests into our space as we once could, we are so grateful to have something to bridge the gap. Your caring and compassion makes a difference! <3 #yyjcommunity #givingback #selfcare #carepackages