Parksville Family Ford has donated $5,300 to the Haven Society, a nonprofit organization that provides shelter for women and children who have been abused.
Every year the dealership chooses a local charity and donates $100 for every vehicle purchased in December and January.
Everett Einarson, operations leader for Parksville Family Ford, said the Haven Society was selected by a leadership team vote.
“When it wasn’t COVID, throughout the summer we would have barbecues and carwashes and fundraiser events. We kind of miss that right now — not being able to do the barbecues and stuff, but that’s one of our core values is to be a good corporate citizen,” said Einarson.
Haven Society provides a range of programs and services including information, counselling, crisis support and advocacy services for women, children, youth and families who are experiencing physical, sexual, or psychological violence in their lives.
The society said it has been dealing with what it calls a ‘shadow pandemic’ brought on by COVID-19 regulations. A Statistics Canada study involving 17 police departments across the country found domestic disturbance calls increased by 12 per cent from March–June 2020.
Oceanside RCMP saw an increase of 20 per cent in domestic violence calls last year, compared to 2019, according to Const. Tara Gueulette.
The Parksville-Qualicum Haven House opened in collaboration with the Society for Organised Services (SOS) in 2013.
