Seven local social service providers received a $130,000 boost in grants thanks to the Surrey Homelessness and Housing Society.
On Thursday (Oct. 15), the funds were presented to the groups at the seventh annual awards and grants presentation ceremony.
“This is a gratifying evening where we celebrate the community for its collective contributions to helping our most vulnerable citizens,” said Coun. Judy Villeneuve, chair of the Surrey Homelessness and Housing Society. “Working together, we are holding back the tide of homelessness and helping to lead the way home.”
Organizations benefitting are: Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver; Options Community Services; Pacific Community Resources Society; Realistic Success Recovery Society; Social Planning Research Council of B.C.; and the Surrey Homelessness and Housing Task Force.
The crowd also celebrated the 2015 Heroes of the Homelessness Awards.
They were: Carolyn Colwell of Your City Sport, Bruce Kehler of Canex Building Supplies and B&B Contracting.
Colwell was inspired to launch her buy-one-give-one custom sock company after volunteering at a homeless-serving event where socks were in short supply.
For every pair of socks ordered, Your City Sports donates a second pair to the homeless. Colwell has distributed more than 5,000 pairs of socks in Surrey since January 2014.
Kehler has a long history of philanthropy and has donated more than $200,000 into community services since June 2015.
B&B Contracting is providing a portion of their services in-kind to help Options Community Services in the site-preparation stage for the construction of a shelter in Cloverdale.