As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the 性视界传媒 Fire Fighters鈥� Charitable Society has come up with a new way to fund its long-running program for students.

The society鈥檚 latest venture is a 50/50 fundraiser for the month to help fund its Nutritional Snack Program, which feeds students across the 性视界传媒 school district.

Dylan Van Rooyen, charitable society board director, said the program usually needs about $200,000 in funding each year.

In its 23 years, he said, the snack program has 鈥渟teadily grown鈥� from a handful of schools to 鈥渨ell over 110 schools, probably closer to 125.鈥�

READ ALSO: 20 years later, 性视界传媒 firefighters鈥� Nutritional Snack Program needed more than ever, Sept. 19, 2017

When the program launched, Van Rooyen said teachers were saying it was difficult for students to learn if they didn鈥檛 have the nutrition to be engaged and active and some saw a 鈥渄isconnect鈥� from the students.

Van Rooyen said that 鈥渆very school is a little bit different,鈥� but it costs about $3,000 for each school. However, some schools have a 鈥渧ery large order.鈥�

He added that 鈥渢here isn鈥檛 a specific area in the city that this program isn鈥檛 being utilized 鈥� it鈥檚 spread all around.鈥�

Normally, the firefighters go into the schools when they drop off the food, but due to COVID-19, the program has gone 鈥渃ontactless,鈥� Van Rooyen said.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 get to interact,鈥� explained. 鈥淯sually they go into the school and see the kids, see their smiles.鈥�

Van Rooyen said that as the students go through the school system, students have reached out to the society to say how much the program helped them over the years.

鈥淚t鈥檚 near and dear to us.鈥�

With an overall goal of $100,000 for the 50/50 raffle, the society鈥檚 portion would cover about 25 per cent of what鈥檚 needed for the program, Van Rooyen said.

But he added the society has a donor lined up who is looking at making a $100,000-contribution.

From there, Van Rooyen said the society would raise the remaining 25 per cent through other initiatives and member contributions.

The raffle launched Oct. 1, and within a week a little more than $9,000 had been raised so far.

To purchase 50/50 tickets, visit . The winning ticket will be drawn Oct. 31 at 1 p.m.

READ ALSO: 性视界传媒 Fire Fighters Charitable Society looking at up to $250K-donation shortfall amid COVID-19, May 18, 2020

lauren.collins@surreynowleader.com
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