Johnston Group created the Advisor Charitable Match Program to team up with our advisors across the country who are supporting community initiatives that make a difference.
February 2024
1 in 4 children don’t get enough food. Many of those children rely on school programs for their meals, but what do they do the other 175 days of the year?
When advisor Greg Andrews learned that the Quesnel Tillicum Society was filling that dire gap by running the local branch of the Starfish Pack School Backpack Program, he knew he had to help.
“They discovered that during vacations and weekends there is not adequate food available at home for the kids,” says Greg.” It’s energizing to see the program evolve from a small idea to this dedicated network of schools and volunteers.”
The program is designed to enhance school breakfast and lunch programs. Every weekend and day off, it sends children in need home with a backpack filled with a rotating menu of easy-to-prepare food and fresh ingredients – enough for three meals a day.
Greg is the local advisor for Chambers Plan employee benefits in Quesnel, BC, and Johnston Group, the plan’s administrator, was happy to match his financial contribution.
The Quesnel, BC Tillicum Society / Native Friendship Centre’s mission is to improve the quality of life and meet the needs of First Nations and other people who are struggling in Quesnel, especially those adjusting to life in a new urban community. Alongside the backpack program, it offers supports like a fetal alcohol and drug effects counsellor, mom’s group, moms for recovery program, drug and alcohol program, youth employment counsellor, youth outreach, family support worker, family law advocates, family finder and cultural programming.
