BY DUCK PATERSON
February is the month of love, with Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14 and Random Acts of Kindness Day on Feb. 17. Both of those days tie in with the meaning of love and that’s the message the Ladysmith and District Arts Council is trying to get out to the community.
“This February, the Ladysmith arts council and our community are showing their love,” said Holmes. “[It] began as a literary event with community members and students writing poems about love and our council and others are still creating that feeling … but this year we’re hoping to add more love.”
As is common all across the Island, food banks are hurting after Christmas and donations are down. Holmes said unfortunately Ladysmith is no different, so the arts council is sharing the love by leading a food bank drive this February.
Love can come in many forms and Holmes added the arts group has a distinct focus to aid the food bank, collecting toilet paper from Feb. 1-15. Ladysmith Secondary School students are also participating and hoping to break a record for the most toilet paper donated in 15 days.
“If you are out shopping, throw in a roll or two for the food bank, and drop it off at the nearest drop-off location. We’ll love you for it,” Holmes said.
Eliina Alle, co-ordinator of the Ladysmith Food Bank, said clients need toiletries for both men and woman, hygiene products, and toilet paper.
“These are items that not everyone thinks about when they talk of food banks,” she said. “Of course, we will never turn down tinned goods like salmon, fruit and vegetables, pasta sauce, peanut butter, soup and such.”
To go along with the charity drive, the arts council has asked its members and Ladysmith Secondary students to create original Valentine’s Day cards for the food bank.
“We thought it would be a fun project to show our love for all members of our community,” Holmes said. “The results have been astonishing, with over 100 valentines created just for the food bank members, to show that everyone in our community is loved.”
Stephen Epp, principal of Ladysmith Secondary, said the school is challenging students and community members to donate as much as they can to charity, both toiletries and canned goods, during the month.
“February has 29 days so we have that extra day this year,” he said. “Hopefully this can be an annual event and get better every year.”
Toilet paper can be dropped off at the Ladysmith Art Gallery at 32 High St., Motus/Crossfit, Pharmasave and Juniper and Sage.
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