A surprised group of single parents and their kids will sit down to dinner Christmas Day in Saanich thanks to an anonymous contest winner paying it forward.
Sheana Jackson planned to skip Christmas dinner.
A single mom on disability who works part-time from home, she already stretches the budget routinely.
Turkey dinner just wasnB次元官网网址檛 in the cards for 2023.
Then fate threw a newspaper contest and a little philanthropy her way.
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The Oak Bay B次元官网网址 partnered with Slaters Meats and the Old Farm Market to run a holiday contest with the grand prize of a full holiday dinner.
The winner, who chose to remain anonymous, asked the community paper to pay it forward and Jackson got an unexpected call.
B次元官网网址淚 cried. I literally cried,B次元官网网址� Jackson said.
B次元官网网址淭hank you. I donB次元官网网址檛 know what else to say. I wasnB次元官网网址檛 planning on doing a dinner mainly because I didnB次元官网网址檛 have the cash to do it.B次元官网网址�
Jackson is far from alone. Greater Victoria charities reported a significant spike in need well ahead of winter, with food security a particular challenge.
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Nationally, food bank visits were at an unprecedented level, according to Hunger Count 2023, a Food Banks Canada annual report. According to the count, in March there were more than 1.9 million visits to food banks across the nation, up 32 per cent over record-setting 2022. B.C. recorded 195,925 visits, up 20 per cent over last year and up 57 per cent since 2019.
Paying it forward is a habit JacksonB次元官网网址檚 familiar with. Living in a building with others on fixed incomes, itB次元官网网址檚 a team sport supporting each other.
B次元官网网址淭his world just needs more kind people and people who are helping each other. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what I do in my building,B次元官网网址� she said.
So come Christmas Day, she plans to have a feast with friends.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got a few friends who are single moms as well, so theyB次元官网网址檒l come over with their kids too and weB次元官网网址檒l have a big dinner together,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nd if thereB次元官网网址檚 something in this meal that I canB次元官网网址檛 use, I will pay it forward to someone else.B次元官网网址�
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