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Local businesses help by replace aging wheels

Collaborative effort assists with charitable deliveries
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Galaxy Motors general manager David King, Living Edge pastor Neil van Heerden, Vivian Chenard, manager of community relations for Thrifty Foods, and Ray Gudmundson, manager of the Thrifty Foods Colwood location, with the van they donated to Living Edge, with decal work provided for free by Speedpro Signs. (Rick Stiebel/News Gazette staff)

Rick Stiebel/News Gazette staff

A group of local businesses teamed up to put Living Edge back on the right track.

Thrifty Foods in Colwood, Galaxy Motors, Maxxam Insurance and Speedpro Signs all pitched in to replace Living Edge’s delivery van, which was well past its best before date. Living Edge is a project of the Church of Our Lord in Victoria, which donates fresh food to people in need at a variety of locations throughout the Capital Region.

Pastor Neil van Heerden said Living Edge provides fresh produce for about 65,000 people a year through its neighbourhood market program, which allows people to choose the produce they prefer from what’s available.

“We’ve been driving an old beater upper for years now, and it’s reached the end,” van Heerden said. “It’s hard to describe how amazing this is,” he said, motioning toward the shiny 2004 GMC Safari that has been completely reconditioned.

Vivian Chenard, manager of community relations for Thrifty Foods, said they were thrilled to be part of the group replacing the van. “Living Edge has been a part pf our Smile Card program for five years now,” she said. “We were able to raise about $12,000 for the van as part of that program that assists about 450 groups and projects.”

David King, general manager for Galaxy Motors in Colwood, said they put a lot of effort into networking with other dealerships to get the best deal “humanly” possible, and contributed about $5,500 worth of reconditioning work. “We’re always looking for ways to partner with other businesses and help out where we can,” he noted. Speedpro Signs did all of the decal work for the vehicle at no charge, he added.

Al Tolsma from Maxxam Insurance in Langford said the company was pleased to help out by providing the insurance for free. “We’ve been blessed as a company and we’re happy to pass it along,” he said.


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editor@goldstreamgazette.com