Introducing Andrea Manson, SOS Board Chair Fall/Winter 2025 SOS Community Impact
It’s an honour to step into the role of Board Chair for the Society of Organized Services (SOS). I’m also delighted to welcome four new members to our Board — each bringing unique talents, community spirit, and a shared commitment to the people of District 69, (Parksville, Qualicum Beach and outlying local communities). Together, we look forward to strengthening the programs and partnerships that make SOS such a cornerstone of caring in our area.
Our volunteers remain at the heart of everything we do. From the Thrift Shop to Family Night to the Caring for
Community at Christmas program, volunteers bring compassion, energy, and connection to every corner of SOS. Volunteering doesn’t just help others — it helps us too. Studies show that volunteering reduces stress, improves mood, and keeps us mentally and physically active. It’s one of the healthiest ways to stay engaged and purposeful, especially in retirement.
We’re also deeply grateful to our Biz for Good partners and to the many community members who are helping fund our new SOS bus — keeping people connected to essential programs and services. And mark
your calendars for the Tigh-Na-Mara Toy Drive on November 26, 2025 — a wonderful tradition that helps brighten the holidays for local families.
Thank you for being part of this caring community. Together, we’re building a stronger, kinder, and more connected place to live.
— Andrea Manson, SOS Board Chair
SOS Grocery Bus Service connects seniors to food
For many seniors in District 69, the SOS Grocery Bus Service means access to food, independence and community.
The SOS Grocery Bus Service picks up seniors at their homes, takes them to the grocery store, and assists them with their shopping, supported by SOS volunteers and drivers. For client Judy Jessee, who has been using the service since before the pandemic, it’s been essential. “The bus drivers are great, and the volunteers are amazing. If you can’t read a label or can’t reach a top shelf, they help a lot.”
Judy’s vision problems have affected her to the point where she is unable to drive and appreciates being able to get out of the house and
choose her own groceries. “Some of the people on the bus need more support than I do, so it’s just a wonderful service to have,” she said.
Judy, whose family lives far away, admits she gets lonely and says she notices how the entire group appreciates the social connections as much as the groceries. “We go to a store that has a coffee shop and we can sit with other participants and get social interaction as well,” she said. “I think every town should have a service like this.”
“Many seniors who are 65 and over rely on our bus to help them get their groceries, not only providing access to food, but also friendly, trusted help,” said SOS Executive Director Susanna Newton. “This vital service
ensures District 69 seniors have food security, and it also provides community and social connection.”
Last year, the SOS Grocery Bus Service completed 601 grocery shopping trips.
This service is part of the Oceanside Better at Home Program, administered by SOS in partnership with the United Way British Columbia and funded by the Government of British Columbia.
A Grocery Shopping Service client supported by SOS Volunteer Gaetane.
Thrift shopping soaring, youth leading trend
Thrift shopping is gaining momentum across Canada, and local youth are part of the trend. At the recent SOS Teen Shop event, 85 local teens browsed for second-hand treasures.
“It’s a lot better to shop secondhand to help the environment, help save money, and to help support the local thrift businesses,” said Hana, a local teen who attended the event.
According to the 2024 Value Village Thrift Report, 90 per cent of Canadians thrift shop, up from 83 per cent in 2022. The same report found that 55 per cent plan to shop second-hand this holiday season.
Surveys show younger generations are leading the movement. A 2025 national survey by Angus Reid Group and retail consultancy DIG360 reported that 86 per cent
of Gen Z and 83 per cent of Millennials purchased pre-owned items in the past year.
Thrifting also carries environmental benefits. Canada generates an estimated 1.3 million tonnes of waste apparel each year, much of which ends up in landfills. The Reduce, Reuse, Rewear Report estimates that increasing textile reuse could prevent more than 30 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually by reducing the need for new production.
“On top of all its benefits, thrifting is an outing, a treasure-hunting experience,” said Jackie Brice, SOS Thrift Shop Operations Manager. “We’re seeing more local SOS thrifters sharing their finds online, everything from outfits to home décor that’s being upcycled or celebrated for its uniqueness.”
SOS Thrift Shop also offers gift certificates, a great choice for treasure hunters this holiday season. Every dollar spent at SOS Thrift Shop helps fund vital community programs and services across District 69.
Join the movement and share your thrifted finds on social media and be sure to tag SOS!
Local businesses helping SOS purchase bus
Investing in a strong social safety net is good for all of us. SOS Biz for Good is a charitable giving program designed specifically for the business community. It is a convenient way for businesses to invest in important SOS programs and services while also being given a meaningful platform to tell their stories of positive impact.
SOS helps residents of all ages when they experience hardship, so they can become healthier workers, support local businesses, and contribute to the social fabric of our community.
A sponsorship opportunity through the SOS Connecting Community Campaign has enabled local businesses to help SOS purchase a new bus. The SOS bus is essential in
providing transportation to various SOS programs, helping ease isolation, build community and enhance residents’ well-being. When signing up to sponsor the bus, businesses are also welcomed into the SOS Biz for Good program.
“We are so grateful to our Biz for Good partners, old and new, who have jumped on board and sponsored our Connecting Community Campaign,” said Susanna Newton, SOS Executive Director. “It’s going to be an exciting day when the bus rolls through town with all of these businesses’ logos on it!”
Many local businesses have joined the bus campaign, including Arrowsmith Golf & Country
Club, Close to You Boutique, Kalvas Restaurant, M&N Mattress Shop, Norm’s Plumbing, Parks West, Parksville Pharmasave, Podio Studio, Proper Care, Raymond James Qualicum Beach, The Travel Agent Next Door – Sandy McLary, Tigh-Na-Mara, Websites Made with Love, and Windsor Plywood.
Employees at Windsor Plywood Parksville. Windsor Plywood is the first Biz for Good Platinum member donating more than $25,000.
Hana shops for second-hand treasures at the SOS Teen Shop event.
Families celebrate TICTAC Program’s return
“When TICTAC in Qualicum Beach ended, all the parents were really sad,” said SOS parent participant Julia Stussi. “Parksville is quite the commitment for us to drive to. It’s about a 25-minute drive.”
In March, SOS made the difficult decision to end its tenancy at Qualicum Commons and centralize its Child, Youth & Family Programs at its Parksville location. This decision was influenced not only by the uncertainty surrounding the future of Qualicum Commons, but also by the need to ensure that SOS directs its limited resources toward programs that have the greatest impact for socially and economically disadvantaged residents.
Many families from the Qualicum Bay area expressed concern about losing access to the gym play program, said Alice Tulia, Child, Youth & Family Programs Manager. “Parents shared how much they valued the space—not just for their children’s physical activity and social development, but also as a place to connect and build community.”
Recognizing the need, families
were invited to sign up if they were interested in attending a local gym, if one could be found. The response was overwhelming, Alice revealed.
“Over the summer, we explored potential venues, with a very limited budget, and were warmly welcomed by the Qualicum Bay Lions Club, who offered their space and support,” said Alice. “With a playground outside and a cozy indoor area for parents to enjoy coffee and muffins, the location felt like a nostalgic continuation of what families loved about the Commons.”
The program officially relaunched
Sept. 17. During that first session, 21 adults and 26 children came through the doors to play and enjoy some downtime.
“It’s so nice to get a little bit of a break and know our kids are in the next room being taken care of by the lovely people that work for this program,” shared Julia. “The SOS Child, Youth & Family team is so appreciated and loved by so many parents and children in the community.”
The program runs every Wednesday from 9:30 - 11:30 am at the Qualicum Bay Lions Club Hall in Lighthouse Community.
Dedicated efforts to meet volunteer needs at SOS
There’s been a surge of activity in the Volunteer Corner of SOS! In September, we welcomed Sarah Costen as the new SOS Volunteer & Donor Relations Coordinator. Soon after, we hosted two Oceanside Volunteer Fairs held in Parksville and Qualicum Beach. Twenty-two organizations participated in these fairs, attracting over 100 attendees. The feedback from both the organizations and attendees was very positive. We also set up information tables at SOS
Thrift Shop during its 22nd Anniversary week, and on October 8, SOS participated in the RDN’s Active Aging Week Open House at Oceanside Place Arena. We shared information about how our programs help keep seniors healthy and engaged and how volunteering contributes to seniors’ well-being.
SOS is in need of volunteers in a variety of areas. Our top need is Thrift Shop volunteers, (40 needed, primarily cashiers and change room attendants).
We are also in high need of Volunteer Drivers (10), and Office Volunteers with computer skills (3). Please email volunteer@sosd69.com or fill out an inquiry form on our website.
Parents and their children enjoy playtime at the SOS TICTAC program now located in Qualicum Bay on Wednesdays.
Sarah greeting guests at one of the Oceanside Volunteer Fairs.
Tigh-Na-Mara Toy Drive helping make Christmas brighter
Lara became a single parent after losing her partner to cancer, and providing Christmas presents to her son was the last thing on her mind (her name has been changed to protect her identity). Luckily, the SOS Caring for Community at Christmas program ensured she didn’t have to worry about that.
“The SOS Christmas program was incredibly helpful and so much appreciated,” she said. “It also helped offset the rising food costs, since I’m now the sole income provider.”
The SOS Caring for Community at Christmas program supports low-income parents, guardians, and grandparents in providing special gifts for their children. Families and individuals in need also receive grocery store gift cards, allowing them to select food that is important to them during the holidays. The Tigh-Na-Mara Toy Drive has been helping SOS stock its Toy Shop for 17 years.
The event has collected more than 22,000 toys and $170,000 in cash and gift cards for the SOS Caring for Community at Christmas program. Beyond all the donations collected last year, Tigh-Na-Mara staff donated 45 bikes through their Bikes for Tykes Program, where employees sign up for payroll deductions to put towards bikes for children and youth.
The Tigh-Na-Mara Toy Drive is scheduled for Wednes-
day, Nov. 26 from 6:30 am to 10 am. Guests can bring in a new, unwrapped gift, gift card, or financial donation for the SOS Christmas program and receive a complimentary buffet breakfast at Tigh-Na-Mara. A drive-through option will be available outside the main entrance. There will also be a pre-event option at Cedar’s Restaurant Nov. 12 through Nov. 25, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 am to 11:30 am. Guests can bring in their donation and receive a complimentary breakfast.
Lara said her eight-year-old son and his father were very close. Although Christmas wasn’t the same without her partner, accessing the SOS Christmas program helped make it special, she said. “My son got a great big fire truck, and he loves fire trucks!” she said. “He plays with it constantly still.”
SOS CARING FOR COMMUNITY AT CHRISTMAS DONATION REPLY FORM
Phone: 250.248.2093 Fax: 250.248.8433
Email: sos@sosd69.com www.sosd69.com
For more information about our privacy policies or questions about making a donation, please call 250.248.2093 ext. 251. | Charitable registration # 107021537RR0001
