Comox Valley’s Next Wave business group serves up smiles at Sonshine Valentine’s lunch

For some, February is synonymous with chocolate and flowers, celebrating special relationships and looking forward to spring. For the homeless, mentally ill and others less fortunate, cold and rainy February is often the hardest month of the year.

When members of the Next Wave business networking group helped host a special Valentine’s lunch on Friday, February 12 through the Sonshine Lunch Club, their goal was to make February just a little brighter for the estimated 100-150 people who attended.

“A lot of people and businesses donate and do charity work around the holidays, but once Christmas has come and gone it’s often a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind,’” says Next Wave member Adam Duncan. “February can be pretty tough for the people who use the services of the Sonshine Lunch Club, so when they asked if we could do something for Valentine’s, of course we jumped on board.”

Not only did Next Wave members raise $600 and go out and buy ingredients and supplies, they donated an additional $150 to the Sonshine Lunch Club, the “soup kitchen” operated by members of St. John the Divine and St. Peter’s Anglican Church. Then they helped prepare the food, serve it and clean up afterward.

“All of the recipients of the lunch were very appreciative,” says Duncan. “And for the Next Wave members dishing it out, just being able to take part in it was immensely satisfying.

“As individuals and business owners, we all have our various charities and organizations that we support,” he adds. “But to be able to come together and get involved was really enjoyable. It’s always rewarding to help out, and I think as members of Next Wave it’s just nice to be able to contribute as a group and give back to the community that supports us all.”

Next Wave formed last year as a way to give local businesspeople a new opportunity to generate referral business and collaborate with other professionals. While this is the group’s first foray into cooperative charity work, Duncan says it won’t be the last.

“I know I speak for the entire group when I say the day was a huge success; we look forward to getting involved with other great organizations.”

Next Wave is always looking for like-minded businesspeople interested in sharing their knowledge and getting involved. The group is hosting an open house on Tuesday, March 1 at 7 a.m. For more information, or to RSVP, email info@cvbusiness.ca or call 250-897-5450.

To learn more, visit www.cvbusiness.ca.