British Columbians supported Red Cross emergency relief efforts in Syria with generous in-store donations at BC Liquor Stores of more than $70,000.

In the wake of escalating violence in Syria, BC Liquor Stores collected donations from Sept. 16 to Oct. 17, 2015, on behalf of the Red Cross at 196 stores throughout the province.

The donations have helped the Red Cross provide food, water, household items and life-saving health services to Syrians impacted by violence and unrest in their homeland, as well as to neighbouring countries affected by the conflict and resulting influx of refugees.

BC Liquor Stores’ contributions to the Red Cross have bolstered provincial and federal support for Syria. As the conflict intensified, the federal government committed to support Red Cross Syrian relief efforts by matching every eligible dollar donated by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities, up to $100 million, until Dec. 31, 2015. The provincial government also pledged $1 million in funding to help Syrian refugees settle in B.C.

Since 2003, BC Liquor Stores customers and employees have raised more than $2 million to help the Red Cross provide disaster relief for humanitarian crises at home and abroad. This year alone, BC Liquor Stores collected nearly $300,000 to assist the Nepal earthquake and B.C. wildfires relief efforts of Red Cross.