BC Liquor Store customers donated more than $217,000 to support Red Cross relief efforts in the Philippines. One hundred per cent of these funds have been forwarded to the Canadian Red Cross Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund.

Following a request from the Canadian Red Cross, BC Liquor Stores began accepting donations from customers and staff on Nov. 12, 2013, to support Red Cross efforts in the Philippines. The fundraising campaign took place in all 195 BC Liquor Store locations and ran until Dec. 9, 2013.

The Province of British Columbia is also matching the first $300,000 donated by British Columbians through all donation channels. In total, British Columbians contributed more than $3.68 million to the Canadian Red Cross.

The Red Cross is using donations to help provide urgently needed assistance in communities most affected by Haiyan. In its wake, Haiyan left 4.1 million people displaced, and urgent, life-saving emergency services continue to be required in the forms of food, clean water, medical supplies and emergency shelter.

As a partner of the Canadian Red Cross, the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) mobilizes its fundraising capabilities through the BC Liquor Stores chain when the Red Cross requests help in raising funds for its disaster relief efforts.

Quotes:

LDB General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Blain Lawson -

"Our thoughts continue to be with those who are trying to rebuild their lives in the Philippines, and their friends and family who live here. The Liquor Distribution Branch is a proud partner of the Red Cross and we want to thank our BC Liquor Store customers and staff for their incredible support of the Red Cross disaster relief effort in the Philippines."

Director, B.C. & Yukon Red Cross Kimberley Nemrava -

"The humanitarian impact of Haiyan has been colossal. The generosity of government and BC Liquor Store customers and staff helps us continue to assist Philippine Red Cross for the long-term, providing vital supplies of food and non-food items, as well as shelter, livelihood and health services."

Quick Facts:

• On Nov. 8, 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan - one of the strongest storms ever recorded with wind speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour - destroyed thousands of homes and completely devastated parts of the Central Philippines.

• Since 2010, BC Liquor Stores customers and employees have supported disaster relief by contributing over $1.9 million for humanitarian crises around the world.

• BC Liquor Store customers and employees have also supported disaster relief efforts closer to home, like those that assisted people affected by B.C.'s wildfires and this past summer's flooding in Alberta.

Media Contact:

Tarina Palmer
Senior Communications Program Officer
BC Liquor Distribution Branch
604 252-3028 or 604 362-4984