Alyssa, a staff member with the Island Crisis Care Society, received roughly 20 per cent of the "Bus and Park It" packages. (submitted/Jan Weir)

By Spencer Sterritt

bus and park it

Bus tickets, PPE and Nanaimo maps handed out to encourage outdoor exploration during pandemic

Feb 17, 2021 | 5:34 AM

NANAIMO — A Nanaimo non-profit group wants to help as many people get out and explore nature as possible.

The Altrusa Club of Nanaimo delivered 530 “Bus and Park It” packs to 16 service providers in the city, each featuring bus tickets, sanitizer, PPE and maps of the areas many trails. The roughly $20,000 project was funded through the Canadian Red Cross in federal COVID-19 relief money.

Jan Weir with the local Altrusa Club told NanaimoNewsNOW they wanted to help people destress and enjoy more of their community as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

“As one Altrusa husband said, ‘I had no idea anybody could be so excited about a bus pass.’ But you know, not everyone can afford a bus pass. Hopefully this will help people get out into nature so they can destress in these very stressful times.”

Weir said she believed the tickets and PPE would help a wide range of people, with the service providers on board helping many different ages.

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The Island Crisis Care Society received roughly 20 per cent of the packs.

“They’ve got so many people to help, mainly in supportive living. They said they know the packs will have a fantastic impact and be very valuable and a contribution to their clients well-being.”

The Boys and Girls Club of Vancouver Island will also give packs to youth who often support their entire family.

“That donation of the bus tickets will help them and their family get out into nature to spend time together.”

Weir said assembling the packs was a challenge for the club, since many of its members are seniors and some have health care complications.

Despite the challenge, she said even those who couldn’t help put the packs together still coordinated and made their mark in the team effort.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt