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What's in Store: Companies help feed Langley kids

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In this day of technological advancements and insane wealth, it baffles me that kids still go to school hungry in Canada, most through no fault of their own but due to the financial limitations befalling their parents.

And yes, even though this is a very affluent community, there are still many such children going to class – without sustenance in their stomachs, without the energy needed to learn.

I did a very small part to help this past weekend by test driving a Ford Fusion.

Admittedly, I’m a minivan person. I can stow away the seats in my 2006 model and have a giant cargo van for all my garage sale treasures, or I can put up all the seats and drag my relatives on various daytrips.

So, while you think I’m digressing – as I usually do – think again. I’m here to share with you that there were a number of nice features I discovered in this car that I took for a spin around the streets of downtown Langley on Saturday.

I appreciated the push button start, the cleanliness of the new car, its get-up-and-go, and its tight handling on the corners.

But it wasn’t enough to sway me.

Nevertheless, I want to thank Dams Ford Lincoln (I’m pretty sure my brother owns shares in this company) for hosting the third annual Drive 4UR Community event in aid of Douglas Park Community School’s breakfast program. I bet you were wondering if I was ever going to segue back to the issue of hungry kids.

Amber Jackson told me the local dealership is able to host upwards of 10 such charity events a year, and this year they moved the Douglas Park event to Langley Mall to increase visibility and hopefully donations.

It sounds like it paid off. There were 118 test drives this time out, and since Ford donates $20 per each authorized driver, that could mean almost $2,400 to help feed our inner city kids in Langley.

That’s awesome, in my books, and Jackson was pleased: “The turn out was successful, but I hope to get closer to the max-out number (300 test-drives) if we were to partner with Douglas Park Community School again next year,” she said.

Who knows, when I go shopping for a new vehicle one day, I might just after to consider a Ford again, thanks to the company’s community caring philosophy.

COBS helping feed kids, too

Speaking of breakfasts, COBS Bread, which has a few outlets in the area, is partnering with Breakfast Club of Canada – a non-profit organization dedicated to providing funds and services for school breakfast programs across the country.

With this fundraiser, which runs until Sept. 24, COBS donates $1 from every loaf of their higher fibre bread that is sold. The goal is to raise $35,000.

Maybe some of that money should come to Langley – and specifically the breakfast program at Douglas Park Community School – just saying.

For information, visit one of the local bakery in WIllowbrook, Walnut Grove, or Clayton Heights, or go online to www.cobsbread.com, click “COBS cares.”

Sunridge celebrates third anniversary with chamber networking session

A business card is the admission ticket necessary to gain access to the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce’s shindig next Thursday.

Each month, this business advocacy and support organization holds a series of events – most of them geared at or at least facilitating networking between Langley entrepreneurs.

During the monthly meeting at Cascades Casino on Tuesday, guests were treated to dinner and a presentation by Anne Murray (no, not that one. The vice-president of marketing and communications) with YVR Airport (or for us old-timers the Vancouver airport.

Next up on the agenda for September, the chamber is hosting its regular Open Late for Business event next Thursday, Sept. 25, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Each month, the location of this event moves around, giving participants a chance to visit businesses they may have never visited before, as well as a chance to hopefully meet a few people they haven’t met before.

This time, Sunridge Garden is the host. Celebrating it’s third anniversary, this assisted living operation is located at 22301 Fraser Hwy., in Murrayville.

While admission is free, and organizers only ask guests to bring their business cards and smiles, guests are asked to RVSP in advance by calling the chamber office at 604-530-6656 or emailing events@langleychamber.com.



Roxanne Hooper

About the Author: Roxanne Hooper

I began in the news industry at age 15, but honestly, I knew I wanted to be a community journalist even before that.
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