Members of a non-profit organization in Powell River hope residents will save stamps all year round, but particularly over the Christmas season as the volume of mail increases.
The Order of the Eastern Star collects used stamps, postcards and Campbell’s soup labels to raise funds for its Stamp Out Cancer program. The British Columbia and Yukon chapter raised $8,293 during its last fiscal year. However, due to email, the amount has dropped over the years.
All the money collected is contributed to the organization’s cancer projects, explained Pat Krell, stamp coordinator in Powell River. “It is to be used either for research or cancer dressings, wherever it is needed,” she said. “Monies allocated to the Cancer Dressing Station Fund provide material to the various cancer dressing stations throughout the province. Volunteers of the Order of the Eastern Star work at these stations and many types of dressings are made, which are supplied to any cancer patient at no charge, with a doctor’s note.”
The organization has a collection box at Powell River General Hospital, across from the gift store. Interested readers who would like to contribute stamps are asked to leave one-quarter of an inch around them. Postcards should have the stamps on them. For soup labels, all that’s needed is the portion with the bar code. Any envelopes with stamps from foreign countries can also be donated.
Other projects the organization funds include the purchase of Spinoza Bears for children at cancer clinics and a medical library at BC Cancer Agency. A special project this year was for the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund Burn Camp.
The Powell River chapter also funds a local Brooks Secondary School scholarship.
“Our main charity is the fight against cancer,” said Krell. “Without the continued help and support from the community, we could not keep up our good works. We are grateful especially to the many businesses and organizations that help with our projects.”
