A family legacy dating back to 150 years fuels a donation that will sustain the Second Chance Cafe in Saanich for years to come.

Growing up in the Cridge family comes with stories of community works dating as far back as great, great, great grandfather Bishop Edward Cridge whose work alongside wife Mary led to the creation of the BC Protestant Orphans Home in Victoria in 1873.

The orphanage shifted focus by 1970 and became The Bishop Cridge Centre for the Family, altered in 1980 to what itB次元官网网址檚 called today, The Cridge Centre for the Family. It developed from an institution that cared for children without families, to one supporting families.

For pharmacist Jason Cridge it's more than a history lesson, but a standard set by family in caring for community, one his father Mike continues as a three-decade member of the Cridge Centre board.

A longtime supporter of the brain injury program, JasonB次元官网网址檚 latest nod to that tradition is a $100,000 donation to Cridge brain injury programs, specifically earmarked for the Second Chance Cafe at Saanich's Cedar Hill Rec Centre where brain injury survivors from across Greater Victoria take on all of the staffing roles.

B次元官网网址淕rowing up itB次元官网网址檚 part of the family story. This is one way I can help in particular,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 one of the values of Cridge Pharmacy, that we give back to the community.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 there, through his work, Jason regularly sees brain injury survivors. HeB次元官网网址檚 also attended previous Survive, Strive, Thrive Conferences (Oct. 5 at the University of Victoria) that connect survivors, caregivers, professionals and more. HeB次元官网网址檚 heard stories of survivors and knows B次元官网网址渋t could happen to anyone.B次元官网网址�

Statistics show survivors of brain injury are more likely to experience homelessness, poverty and addiction, so programs providing job training, employment, and fulfillment are crucial. Cridge sees those attributes credited in the continuum of care developed by the Cridge Centre for the Family, specifically for brain injury survivors, including the cafe. A partnership between the District of Saanich and the Cridge Centre, the cafe is staffed by survivors, led by Geoff Sing, manager of brain injury programs for the Cridge.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got a lot of faith in Geoff knowing the next best steps for people,B次元官网网址� Jason said. CCFF figures it will sustain the cafe for a number of years, where the focus is on education and employment.

While thereB次元官网网址檚 an eye to the bottom line for sure, Sing says, the funding allows freedom to highlight more critical pieces. It equates to greater opportunities for survivors and by proxy broader education for the public.

B次元官网网址淚t gives us stability.  It allows us to grow our program with more creativity,B次元官网网址� Sing said. B次元官网网址淲hen people see Jason Cridge say B次元官网网址業 believeB次元官网网址�, the greater community believes.B次元官网网址�