Charitable spirit blooming – triple donation to Cockrell House

Deborah Morrow makes a $5,000 donation to Cockrell House chairman Angus Stanfield, Jan. 19. Morrow donated her cash prize from a Canada Volunteer Award to the West Shore facility that provides transitional housing and other support for homeless and at-risk veterans. Photos by Peter Mallett, Lookout

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~

A one-time donation to a West Shore charity that helps homeless veterans has snowballed into two matching donations.

Cockrell House, which provides transitional housing to homeless and at-risk veterans, received a total of $15,000 two weeks ago from three very supportive donors.

Deborah Morrow, Verity Health Resources Chief Executive Officer, donated her Canada’s Volunteer Award cash prize to the charity, which was followed up with donations from the West Shore Poppy Fund of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 91 and the Greater Victoria Afghanistan Memorial Project.

Morrow received her award in Ottawa Dec. 5 on UNESCO’s International Day of the Volunteer for her 35 years championing the cause of youth and homeless veterans. She also volunteers and mentors youth in the Duke Edinburgh’s Award Challenge, the Youth NATO Summit global conference, the Coast Guard, and the Navy League of Canada.

“I blurted it out right away, that all of the money would go to Cockrell House,” said Morrow. “About five minutes later I contacted Cockrell House Chairman Angus Stanfield on the phone and told him the news.”

With everyone in attendance Jan. 19, Stanfield accepted the money.

“It is a great shot in the arm for this organization,” he said. “This money will be put into use immediately to fund our program and assist veterans who need our help now.”

The 11-bed multiplex on Sooke Road has provided a place to live, food, counselling, social services and transportation to over 70 residents since it opened its doors in 2009.

Supporting Cockrell House seemed a perfect fit with the Greater Victoria Afghanistan Memorial Project (GVAMP), said Larry Gollner from GVAMP. After unveiling their 8,600-kilogram granite BC Afghanistan Memorial Sept. 30, 2017, at the Courthouse Park, Gollner said they had leftover resources.

“When we announced we were disbanding and clearing the balance of funds in our account, all the members of our organization said collectively: Good thinking, let’s do this today and give the money to Cockrell House,” said Gollner. 

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 91 also followed suit in the dollar-matching rush, thereby tripling the original donation. Stanfield says the outpouring of generosity has attracted the interest of past Cockrell House donors such as the City of Colwood, which is also considering their own dollar-matching donation.

For more information about how to support Cockrell House with cash donations or non-perishable items contact Agnus Stanfield at angusstanfield@shaw.ca