Vancity supports Canadian Red Cross wildfire relief efforts

July 16, 2021

Vancity today launched a donation program to support communities affected by the wildfires across British Columbia. Vancity is donating $25,000 to the Canadian Red Cross 2021 British Columbia Fires Appeal and will match every additional dollar donated to the Vancity Humanitarian Fund between July 3 and August 3, up to $50,000. Every dollar donated to the Vancity Humanitarian Fund during that time period will be donated to Canadian Red Cross 2021 BC Fires Appeal.

The Governments of Canada and British Columbia will also match every dollar donated to the Vancity Humanitarian Fund. The matching funds – up to $20 million from each level of government – will apply to all donations made between July 3rd and August 3rd. This means every $1 donated by a Vancity member will become up to $4 to support those affected by wildfires.

"British Columbians are experiencing the devastating impacts of the climate crisis firsthand, and I encourage anyone who's in a position to do so, to donate to the relief effort. Climate change is driving the dangerous confluence of extreme heat and intense wildfires, and we hope this fund supports individuals, families and communities that have been displaced or impacted by this crisis," said Andrea Harris, Director of Community Investment at Vancity.

The public can donate to the Vancity Humanitarian Fund in the following ways:

• Vancity members can donate through online banking using the “Pay Bills” function and choosing the VCF Donation form (in the left side bar menu). Select Vancity Humanitarian Fund from the top of the dropdown menu.


• Anyone can donate to the Vancity Humanitarian Fund with their credit card through the Vancity Community Foundation website. Any Visa, Mastercard or American Express is accepted, and receipts are generated automatically. Donate now.


• Vancity enviro™ Visa* cardholders can donate 2,000 or more Vancity Rewards™ points to the Vancity Humanitarian Fund ($20 rewards value) online at https://creditcards.vancity.com/. To donate points online, log into your Manage my Visa account. Click on the ‘Explore your rewards’, “Charity” and then the “Donate Now” button. In the space provided, enter the number of points you wish to donate and select “Vancity Humanitarian Fund” as the name of the charity.

Gifts of $20 or more will receive a tax receipt.

For any members who have experienced hardships due to these fires, please reach out to our Member Services Centre - 1(888)826-2489.

About the Vancity Humanitarian Fund

Vancity developed the Vancity Humanitarian Fund in September 2015 in response to the Syrian refugee crisis and to provide ongoing support for organizations that address this and other humanitarian causes. To date this year, the Fund has donated to the India Covid-19 Response Appeal through the Canadian Red Cross and has contributed $100,000 to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society crisis line.

^*Visa Int./Vancity, Licensed User.