Envision Financial has helped fill the cupboards of food banks throughout the year.
Now, Envision is doing what it can to fill space under the Christmas trees of those who would otherwise go without this holiday season.
The Full Cupboard is a community program designed to raise food, funds and awareness for food banks in communities where Envision Financial operates.
The need is there.
Last year, more than 95,000 B.C.ers used their local food bank, 30 per cent of whom were children.
Envision members and non members can contribute by dropping off nonperishable food items, or by making a cash donation at any Envision Financial branch, including the one in Langley at 20193 64th Ave.
All food and funds remain in the community where they were collected – which, locally, directly benefits the Langley Food Bank.
“The money we raise here in Willoughby goes to Langley Sources Food Bank,” explained Jan McIlvaney, investment services assistant with Willoughby’s Envision. “The money that’s raised in Hope goes to the Hope Food Bank. That’s what is unique about it.”
McIlvaney noted the Willoughby branch has collected an estimated 750 pounds of food this year.
As well, a recently held Pub Night at the Dublin Crossing Irish Pub raised nearly $2,000 for the cause.
As an extension of the program, Envision branches have put up Christmas “gift trees” where members, non members, and staff can take a tag off a tree, buy an unwrapped gift for a child, teen, or senior, and deliver the gift to the branch by Dec. 12.
Through the annual Full Cupboard Holiday Program trees can be found at any Envision branch or insurance location, or the Langley Advance office.
Nonperishable food items are also accepted.
The gifts are earmarked for the Langley Christmas Bureau.
“All the Envision branches have a tree,” McIlvaney said.