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B.C. Liquor Stores taking donations for Pakistan flood relief efforts

Heavy flooding caused by monsoon rains in Punjab province, near Multan, Pakistan, on August 15.

UN Photo/Evan Schneider
By Stephen Hui, August 25, 2010

British Columbians can now pick up a six-pack of beer or a bottle of wine and, at the same time, help the people of Pakistan deal with the epic floods ravaging their country.

Checkouts at all 197 B.C. Liquor Stores locations are accepting donations to the Canadian Red Cross’s relief efforts in the South Asian country.

Until September 29, donations can be made in the amount of $2 or $5, or multiples of those figures.

No income tax receipts will be provided for in-store donations.

The Guardian reported on Tuesday (August 24) that 1,539 people have died as result of the flooding in Pakistan.

About 20 million people have been affected by the natural disaster.

On August 13, Premier Gordon Campbell announced the B.C. government would contribute $150,000 to the Red Cross’s efforts in Pakistan.

You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.

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Comments

BC Blue
Wed, 2010-08-25 12:41
Curious how other charities or disaster relief funds can get access?
 
SheSays
Wed, 2010-08-25 12:47
I think it's great that anyone is fundraising for people for affected by disasters. But this is a curious connection (first impression at headline: donate booze and flood victims won't feel the pain?). Why the liquor stores? I don't remember them ever raising funds for anything else - have they? Sounds like this might have been driven by one person's passion, one employee/CEO/whatever... which is great too. This isn't critical of them at all, I think it's great, but I'm puzzled & I bet I'm not the only reader for who this leaves lots of questions. I wonder if the Straight could dig a bit more & fill in some of the background.
 
Stephen Hui
Wed, 2010-08-25 13:25
@SheSays: Actually, according to a B.C. government press release, B.C. Liquor Stores previously collected donations for the Canadian Red Cross during the 2003 B.C. wildfires, the 2004 tsunami, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the earthquake in Haiti earlier this year.
 
What about us?
Wed, 2010-08-25 19:59
what I find amazing is hat our government had millions they could give away to Pakistan, yet nothing to give the the people on the DTES.
 
derp
Wed, 2010-08-25 20:23
isn't liquor outlawed by islamic law? lol we will save you with beer money
 
ironic
Wed, 2010-08-25 21:45
buying booze to raise funds for a generally hostile islamic regime that would disapprove of the consumption of the product!
 
Matty K.
Thu, 2010-08-26 15:16
@What about us?

Maybe it is because the people on the DTES are not likely to band together and expand a global terrorism network?
 
glen p robbins
Thu, 2010-08-26 17:39
Good stuff Matty K. The news out today (August 26, 2010) has the terrorists threatening to kill the relief workers that are over there helping.

I am sorry - but we need to look at those in need in BC first - we have the highest poverty rate in the country - the Pakistan government is working every angle -- and the bad boys over there simply don't give a shit-- no matter their rationale----

I'm with Ron Paul -- stop wasting money over there and look after our own in BC first -.
 
 
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