People gathered at the Communitas Supportive Care Society for the society's Taste and Tour event in June, where they could enjoy food and drinks from local vendors while learning about the Society and how it serves the Campbell River community.
"I love seeing who comes to these events," says Matt Dirks, the chief innovation officer for Communitas. "It's often a melting pot of people: local dignitaries, family of the people we serve, donors, local business owners, former staff, current staff, funders, and more."
The idea for Taste and Tour, Dirks says, came out of a desire to do something unique, connecting the community to Communitas in a meaningful way. It was a way to foster relationships and connections in a casual environment. It was also the first Taste and Tour held in Cambell River.
Sarah De Klein, who oversees the philanthropy department agrees.
"The Taste and Tours create an awareness about the scope of the work we do," she says. "When our presenters share about the work they do in a way that clearly shows how much they enjoy it, it truly connects with our guests in a personal way."
Guests sampled charcuterie and drinks before touring the Brandon Centre, Communitas' regional head office for North Vancouver Island. During the tour, guests learned about the organization's home living options and how their staff works alongside people living with disabilities.
Erika Loomis, a licensed practical nurse with Communitas, says it was great to see everyone with Communitas collaborating to share with the community what the society has to offer and brings to Campbell River.
"I take a great sense of proof for what we do and how we do it, and it was so great to be able to share that."
Archana Rao, a guest at the Taste and Tour, attended the event because she wanted to support local charities that do good work. She liked what she saw.
"I liked that you could talk to the team rather than listen to a presentation," she says. "I learned a lot more about Communitas and the breadth of impact that it has. The team was very friendly and passionate about their work."
