Dan’s goal is to help one family at a time. If you’re interested to speak with him to help, ask for help or learn more about the families he’s helping please email him at About Dan’s project:
It’s important to give back. And with Dan’s help we’re learning that it’s by helping one person at a time; one family at a time. Which is why we’re working with Dan the UsedVictoria.com “Community Angel”. He combs the site & city finding people who tried everything else.
“Thank you Dan for caring for families and those in need. Wonderful to see how one person can make a difference by taking the steps needed. We need more of this in the world today. Good luck, and thanks again. I am sorry that we ourselves can’t help right now, but when we are more capable, I hope to do exactly what you are doing and lend a hand to my neighbors. I know that there are many small things that everyone does everyday that often go overlooked, but it is really wonderful to see someone doing more!!”
- Shauna
wife, mother, and wage earner.
Upcoming events!
September 25th 2011: Toy Run 2011 (presented by the Vancouver Island Mustang Association)
Join Dan’s ‘UsedVictoria truck’ on a cruise with Santa to Beaver Lake picnic site. Please bring a toy or cash donation for the Salvation Army Christmas Fund.
Details: meet at UVic parking lot #10 (enter off Gordon Head) for a 1 hour cruise around town, leaving at 10am. Ending at Beaver Lake picnic site at 11am. Click here to print this info.
Click here to see the route.
NB: only new toys are accepted for this event but Dan is happy to take Used toys for other families in need.
Past community events:
On April 17th, we set up a UsedVictoria.com Team, led by our very own Victoria Angel, Dan, for a Beaver Lake Park 5K Family Walk & 10K Fun Run! Thanks to those who came and those who donated. Dan’s team raised $250 for the event.
On March 20th, we also raised $1339.86 for the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fundraiser with proceeds going to the Red Cross. Thanks to Geisha Tapa Bar and all of those who came out to support!
August:
Congratulations Justin!
Remember our post in May about Justin Plunkett, the brave 15 year old that was diagnosed with Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumour (PNET)? We’re proud to announce that Justin is Cancer free as of August 25th!
Testimonial
It’s always great to hear back from people who have benefited from Dan’s help and it’s very encouraging when we receive emails from those who may not need it but have reached out anyway to show their support. Thanks C.
“Hi,
This is wonderful. I had myself once placed an ad on usedvictoria asking for help. My family was soooo desperate at the time. At any rate. I received a response telling me I should get my lazy arse into a job (am on disability) and set a better example for my daughter. My ad was then deleted. All it did was make me feel ten times worse about my plight at the time. I am so glad to see your website. So wonderful to set something up so people can help other people and treat others with compassion.Thank you so much for doing good works.”
- C
July:
Another garage sale for Fran – July 12th
I’m helping out with another one of Fran’s garage sales. This time I arranged for a few extra people to help out. They are very happy for the help and for my advice on pricing their items. They’re now seeing the floor of the shops.
Finding a Hot Tub for Nathan – July 11th
A fellow by the name of Nathan called asking me to help him find a hot tub. I found a free one on UsedVictoria.com and arranged for him to go pick it up and deliver it with my truck to his door. I volunteered to hook it up while he put the pad in place. His wife Linda is very happy and so are the folks who sold it!
Helping out Wilson
My fifteen year old neighbour, Wilson, recently came to me and asked if I would help him find a job. I told him the first step would be to get a resume and cover letter together. A few days later Wilson got in touch with me again and asked if I knew of any available jobs. This young man lost his father two years ago in the middle of the night from a heart attack. His mother, grandma, and brother, who is two years older than him, all live in the house. His mom works and his older brother had to start working last year to help out the family. Now it is Wilson’s turn to help out as well. He is an honours student downtown at Spectrum and he also attends Chinese school downtown everyday and on Saturdays. Since the Summer he has also taken on Summer school to pursue a career in the RCMP. He knows what he wants and certainly has the drive to achieve it.
The job hunt started with me taking him down to Fairways and introducing him to the manager. He took it from there, answered a few questions and stopped by a few days later to drop off his resume. A week went by with no word from them and Wilson asked me what to do. I told him to give them a polite phone call. He did, and three weeks later he received a call to come by and train with them. He’s now working almost f/t for training and is as happy as ever. This is Wilson in his uniform on his way to work!
May:
http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/FREESingle-mother-in-dire-need-_14524689
1. Saanich family
A family of three who needs money to get them going again and keep them from eviction. Please contact Dan Peirce at Dan@UsedEverywhere.com for details and to help.
Needed:
- $1,200 in funds
- Food – anything is helpful!
Update
- February 8th: Wanted – women’s shoes (size 9 1/2 or a wide 9), women’s shirts (medium or bust 38″), women’s pants and jeans (size 12 or 32″ wast)
A Lake Cowichan family
The woman is on disability and barely makes her rent. She fell behind last year and needs to catch up to keep her and her son in the house. Please contact Dan Peirce at Dan@UsedEverywhere.com for details and to help.
Needed:
- $1,400 in funds
- a part time employment to supplement her disability cheque.
Update:
- February 8th 2010: We have worked with this family in need in Lake Cowichan since January 2011 and the family is now no longer needing UsedVictoria.com ‘Community Angel’ Dan’s help.
- January 30th 2010: trying to relocate to Duncan to reduce funding needs.
Justin Plunkett
From the website www.JustinPlunkett.org. Please contact Dan Peirce at Dan@UsedEverywhere.com for details and to help.
“On the morning of December 14th, Justin Plunkett began his day like any other. His mother, Colleen, reminded him about his dentist appointment before she left for work. At about noon, he called his mother to check in and tell her about the dentist appointment. Everything was fine. Ten minutes later, Colleen got a call that Justin had just had a seizure and that she needed to get there right away. They were transported by ambulance to Victoria General Hospital where he was given a blood test, a CT scan and within the hour they were told that Justin had a tumor in his brain. After further testing, an MRI scan showed two more tumors.
The next morning, Justin and Colleen were air lifted to Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, where he endured several days of various invasive testing. On the morning of Christmas Eve, 11 days after his seizure, Justin was diagnosed with Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumour (PNET). A rare and very aggressive type of cancer that is generally found in children aged 2 – 8 years old and usually presents with just one tumor in the back of the head. Justin is 15, he has three tumors located just above his ear”
Needed:
- please check the upcoming events on the following calendar http://www.justinplunkett.org/apps/calendar/
Update:
- February 8th 2011: we put an ad at the top of UsedVictoria.com on January 26th 2011, and it has already received 1,800 clicks!
Camosun College
From http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/14119552
“Five students from the Community Family and Child Studies program at Camosun College are collecting donations for a project renovating a room for the day program at Futures Club. Due to limited funding, they are seeking donations from the community. If anyone has anything they would like to get rid of they would be more than happy to pick it up and take it off your hands.”
Needed:
- board games
- tv
- wii / wii games
- art supplies
- set of folding chairs
- dvd player / dvds
air hockey table… Thanks to Carrie for donating an air hockey table!!- any type of games table
- rubbermaid organizing containers
West Shore Family
My son and I are in a desperate situation and must move. We are currently in a suite in Westshore, but must vacate ASAP. The landlord has a VERY bad drinking problem and is terrorizing us to the point where we fear for our safety. Just yesterday he put a piece of wood on our entrance door so that he can use a screwdriver to gain access. My son was home alone, the landlord barged in, and went into my bedroom to see if I was home. I’ve had the police here on numerous ocassions; once they took us to my other son’s home for over night. Police were going to put him in jail for breach of peace, but the landlord wouldn’t come to the door. He has turned the power off numerous times, plays music REALLY loud all night so we can’t sleep. My son graduates in June and is having a hard time because he’s not getting sleep. The landlord also stands outside our door yelling insults, etc. etc. He leaves really long nasty messages on my phone, calling me names. We are very stressed out!!
We need to stay in Langford until the end of June as my son is finishing Grade 12 at Belmont. After that, we can move into Victoria, where apartment buildings have cheaper rent. So we need something for next week until the end of June. We have no pets and would happily take a one bedroom with my son sleeping on the couch. We have no car so we need to be close to BC Transit.
Update:
Hello Dan,
Thank you so much for your offer of help. I have found a suitable suite for my son and I, with a landlord who is a kind and decent person. I can’t tell you how happy my son and I will be to move out of this “combat zone”, next week. It has truly taken it’s toll on us.
I received several responses to my ad; it’s encouraging to see that people care.
Again, thank you Dan, and please pass my thanks on to the other people you mentioned. My son and I will be okay.
Sincerely
Marglit
Feedback:
We would also like to send out an extra special thank you to Dorin Brise at the The Root Cellar in Victoria for all of the help!
Thank you Dan for caring for families and those in need. Wonderful to see how one person can make a difference by taking the steps needed. We need more of this in the world today. Good luck, and thanks again. I am sorry that we ourselves can’t help right now, but when we are more capable, I hope to do exactly what you are doing and lend a hand to my neighbors. I know that there are many small things that everyone does everyday that often go overlooked, but it is really wonderful to see someone doing more!!
– Shauna
wife, mother, and wage earner.