A bit of shredding can go a long way.
The Better Business Bureau proved just that last Friday with its fifth annual community shredding event at Tillicum Centre to benefit the Rainbow Kitchen.
The event attracted hundreds of people with boxes full of bank statements and other confidential documents.
“We’ve had a line-up since we opened and the cars won’t stop coming,” said Rosalind Scott, executive director of the Better Business Bureau Vancouver Island chapter.
The by-donation event benefitted the volunteer-run Rainbow Kitchen, which provides 38,000 meals each year to people in need at 500 Admirals Rd. in Esquimalt.
“BBB are fabulous partners, we’re so fortunate to have them partner with us,” said Jeff Dubney, Rainbow Kitchen co-ordinator and volunteer, who was fast at work directing cars at the shredding event.
Scott said BBB’s objective is to make everyone safe, and shredding confidential documents fits that mandate.
While BBB doesn’t track the number of people who use shredding services each year, they do track the weight of paper that they’ve shredded.
Scott expected to put through 1,500 filing boxes – or 10,000 pounds – of documents during a four-hour period using the shredding truck, generously provided by Access Records and Media Management.
Dubney said Rainbow Kitchen relies on a small army of 120 volunteers to help deliver services, but they’re always looking for more help. Between 120 and 135 people rely on the kitchen daily, he said.
“Between 20 to 40 people will bring home food as well,” Dubney said. “These are people who cannot afford to feed themselves.”
The Victoria Rainbow Kitchen Society will be holding its annual general meeting in June to vote in new board members, and Dubney welcomes nominees from all parts of the community.
“We’re always looking for new people to step up to the plate,” he said. “We’re hungry for their support.”
The Rainbow Kitchen has one paid staff member and no paid administrators or fundraisers. Its $78,000 in annual funding is provided by private individuals, corporations, the Rotary Club of Victoria and other organizations.
Financial donations to Rainbow Kitchen can also be made online through victoriarainbowkitchen.ca or by calling 250-384-2069.
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