Comox Valley’s Holiday Spirit Shines with YANA’s Sweet Fundraisers

Posted on

With the season of giving upon us, the Comox Valley is rallying together to stand by YANA (You Are Not Alone) using both time-honoured traditions and exciting new fundraising methods. 

From November 13-19, the four Tim Hortons stores in the Comox Valley have chosen YANA as their charity partner for the inaugural National Holiday SMILE Cookie campaign. The delicious white chocolate chunk cookies with red and green baked-in sprinkles are $1.50 each, and the entire proceeds of the sales will be shared equally between YANA and Tim Hortons Foundation Camps.

 

Kelly Barnie, YANA Executive Director, expresses her gratitude, stating, “All the funds raised from the cookies will be used to assist our families travelling outside the Comox Valley to access medical care for their children. We’re incredibly thankful to Tim Hortons for embracing our cause with this new campaign. We’re hoping our supporters will really jump on board by pre-ordering cookies by the dozen too.”

Pre-order your cookies to share with family, friends, and neighbours, surprise your child’s sports team, daycare or class, enjoy with colleagues, serve at holiday gatherings (they can be frozen!), or perhaps keep them all for yourself – the choice is yours. 

But the sweet support doesn’t stop at cookies; YANA’s handcrafted Christmas Crackers, available starting November 12th at seven retailers across the Valley, promise even more joy. Each $5.00 cracker contains the usual delights, with 49 crackers boasting special prizes like lotto tickets and $50, $100 and $250 Quality Foods gift cards. One lucky cracker holds a 14Kt white gold ring with nine brilliant cut diamonds totalling 0.9 carats of beautiful bling.

Spreading holiday joy and making a positive impact in the Comox Valley is as simple as a quick click. 

Charitable donations to YANA can be made as gifts by visiting yanacomoxvalley.com and clicking “DONATE.” As a donor, you’re not only giving a thoughtful present but also helping our shared community thrive. When you make your generous donation, you’ll instantly receive a heartwarming e-card that can be shared with your loved ones, ensuring your gift is a perfect fit every time.

While the Driftwood Mall Christmas Trees for YANA won’t be returning this year, YANA is thrilled to announce that the mall will be launching an all-new spring fundraiser in support of the charity. Michele Paget, Marketing Director at BGO, says, “We wanted to be able to work closely with YANA’s staff and volunteers at a time of year that would work well for them, and provide them with an infusion of donations during the months when they don’t have another major fundraising event bringing in much-needed funds for Comox Valley families”. As the holiday season concludes, stay tuned for more information about this exciting new fundraiser.

“We supported about 200 children and their families with 400 medical trips last year alone,” said Barnie. “YANA has been assisting local families for almost 4 decades, so when you purchase a cookie, a cracker, or make a donation, there’s a good chance you could be making a difference for a family you might encounter in the shopping line or while you’re enjoying your cookies and double double at Tims.”

Download Smile Cookie pre-order forms here: Tims Holiday Smile Cookie Pre-Order Form (Nov. 10 deadline)

Find a Christmas Crackers retailer list here: YANA Christmas Crackers