May 15, 2013
Victoria Real Estate Board

The Mustard Seed Family Centre received a boost today from the Victoria Real Estate Board (VREB) who donated $10,000 and named the Family Centre as VREB’s Charity of the Year. REALTORS® arrived onsite with a dozen slow cookers filled with nutritious family meals and cookbooks of the recipes used ­– one for each program participant to take home.

After the cheque presentation, a shared meal with staff and participants gave volunteers the opportunity to discuss other ways to help the Family Centre.

“Part of our community relations program is to volunteer in ways that provide value to organizations,” said Carol Crabb, VREB Past-President. “When we notified the Mustard Seed Family Centre that we had chosen them, we asked how we could help. Diane Pearson, the program coordinator, said she wanted to secure a Crockpot® for each person in the group to help them cook nutritious, budget-conscious meals for their busy families.”

Earlier this year, the VREB issued a call for proposals to local organizations that contribute to the well being of the Greater Victoria community. The successful proponent would receive $10,000 for a specific new project or initiative, as well as volunteerism and fundraising for the balance of the year.

“The Mustard Seed is helping families build an inventory of skills to help them succeed in life,” said Andrew Plank, VREB Community Relations Chair. “I’m so pleased that VREB is able to help in our small way, and look forward to helping support the families by other means.”

“We are truly grateful to the Victoria Real Estate Board for the generous donation and volunteer commitment to the Mustard Seed,” says Jackie Cox-Ziegler, Director of Administration for the Mustard Seed . “This is wonderful opportunity to work together to improve the lives of families living in poverty in Victoria.”

The Mustard Seed has been helping people living in poverty since 1975. The programs and services of the Mustard Seed are 100% community funded. They include Vancouver Island’s largest food bank, counseling, advocacy and outreach services, a drop-in centre, a coffee shop, clothing bank, haircuts, nursing and chapel, a Family Centre with life skills programs, and an addictions recovery program at Hope Farms Healing Centre. The Mustard Seed relies on approximately 40 volunteers per day to serve those in need.

The Victoria Real Estate Board has been the non-profit association of REALTORS® in Greater Victoria and the Southern Gulf Islands for 92 years. VREB provides information to consumers and government, local regulation to over 1,200 Members, and manages the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) system for the use of its Members. VREB works throughout the region to help build healthy, sustainable communities according to its Quality of Life Principles.

May 11th, 2013

Have I mentioned I love going to garage sales? I find shopping at garage sales, thrift stores, and flea markets fun, and my boys enjoy them too. They find movies, toys, and books they like for a fraction of retail, making the meager allowance their parents provide go that much further. For myself, I’m always keeping an eye out for collectible cameras, interesting tools, art, useful household items and antique furniture, camping and fishing gear etc.

Some people may consider it “scrounging for junk”, but I enjoy it and think of it a a form of recycling. Shopping at them helps keep things sustainable by repurposing items and keeping them from going to landfill. Hosting a garage sale or making donations to thrift stores is a great way to ensure useful but excess items find new homes.

Garage sales are valuable on other levels too. Whether hosting or attending, there are many life lessons to be learned from garage sales. My boys are learning about negotiation, establishing what an item is worth (to them), “wants” vs. “needs”, etc. Each garage sale is like an archaeological dig, an opportunity to learn more about how different people live and what they value. It is often a very social event as well.

I am organizing the (Fifth annual!) Thetis Heights Neighbourhood garage sale again this year. We expect 20+ households to participate, and are already halfway there with confirmed hosts.

Mark your calendars for May 25th 9am-2pm and come help redistribute the wealth, preserve our environment, and maybe pick up a few deals while you’re at it.

If you live in the neighbourhood and wish to host a sale, please contact me for more details.