Image: Southside Church / Volunteers deliver Christmas gifts from Southside Church as part of its "All is Bright" initiative designed to help Chilliwack families in need this Christmas holiday season.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

All is Bright

Chilliwack church commits half-million dollars to help local families with Christmas gifts, needs

Nov 6, 2024 | 6:52 AM

CHILLIWACK — Southside Church in Chilliwack says it has committed $500,000 to help local Chilliwack families during its “All is Bright” initiative this Christmas holiday season.

The church on South Sumas Road next to Vedder Middle School says its annual initiative is designed to provide essentials for local families who might need it.

“No single parent should struggle to provide food for their family. No child should wake up Christmas morning without a gift… and we’re going to do all we can to help.”

Southside keeps boosting the amount of assistance year over year. In 2022, the church pledged $250,000 to help local families, an amount that increased to $350,000 last year.

The church says it hasn’t received any government grants or one-time gift from a wealthy donor, and it doesn’t plan to wait to fundraise.

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“We can continue to bless our city, through things like this $500,000 initiative and all our ministries here at Southside, only because ordinary people like you give sacrificially,” Southside wrote in the FAQ section of its website about the endeavour. “We are not waiting to ‘fundraise’ this money, we are giving it away from our general fund whether the money comes in or not!”

The “All is Bright” event happens Saturday, November 30 in which volunteers will all pre-wrap gifts/hampers and leave them in vehicles at the church. The church still plans to hold an indoor rally and conduct its outdoor Christmas tree light ceremony before heading out to do deliveries to gift recipients.

People who need a Christmas hamper are invited to sign up at https://southsidelife.com/bright.

“We’re inviting everyone to give, invite, serve and send this link to someone who may need it, in order to make this our brightest year yet,” Southside said.