On Saturday, Jan. 5, the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society will hold its 25th annual tree chip event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Newton Athletic Park, 128 Street and 74 Avenue.
Residents are invited to contribute a small cash donation along with their unwanted Christmas trees to help raise funds for the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society’s Youth and Family Programs.
Since 1988, the Surrey Fire Fighters have been organizing the annual Tree Chip event, raising nearly $5,000 each year. Over 40 firefighters volunteer annually to help remove trees from citizens’ vehicles and toss them into the chipper. Trees are accepted with a small cash donation and donors receive a brochure on the society, as well as a small token of appreciation for participating in this environmentally friendly program.
The tree chip event is just one of several charitable events being held in Surrey as part of We Live Here, We Give Here, a joint initiative between the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society, Surrey Food Bank and Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation that encourages Surrey residents to donate in support of charities with Surrey-based mandates.
Other charitable events being held by the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society include the annual Goodwill Senior Girls Basketball Classic, running Jan. 8-12 at Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School. Sixteen teams from Surrey will participate in the annual tournament, which aims to promote volunteerism, diversity, and female sport.
Along with members volunteering their time organizing game schedules and sponsorships, and providing barbecue sales in support of the tournament, the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society also provides several bursaries to those students demonstrating outstanding volunteer service in their community.
The Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society provides charitable programs that benefit citizens throughout Surrey and assists other charities within our community that have similar goals and objectives. The society relies on volunteerism and as a result is able to operate with minimal administration costs, allowing for more funding to go right back into the community.
As a non-profit, charitable organization, the Surrey Food Bank is able to operate thanks to cash and food donations from the community, assisting approximately 14,000 people a month from Surrey and North Delta.
Established in 1992, Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation has raised more than $60 million to purchase medical equipment, fund innovative programs, and support training and research at Surrey Memorial Hospital and the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre.
More information can be found at www.weliveherewegivehere.ca