An active fundraising campaign aims to replace the SOS complementary bus used to serve its clients. (Society of Organized Services)

By Ian Holmes

bus campaign

VIDEO: Parksville-based non-profit raising money for new wheels

Jun 8, 2025 | 8:53 AM

PARKSVILLE — An integral society serving the Oceanside region for nearly 60 years hopes to have a new bus in the coming months to connect clients with their services.

The Society of Organized Services (SOS) needs roughly $175,000 to realize its $200,000 fundraising goal to replace its existing bus.

Resource development manager Colt Long said the complementary service is used several times a week for multiple programs.

“It’s heart-warming to hear just the wonderful experiences they have, the friendships that are made and the connections. There’s people who have gone through our program years ago that are still friends today,” Long told NanaimoNewsNOW.

With a grant of $200,000 already in the bank, Long is hopeful their new bus will be purchased and serving clients of all ages later this year.

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Whether it’s picking up seniors in rural parts of the region for grocery trips or serving youth with after-school programming, Long said transportation is often a barrier in forging key social connections.

“We want to ease that burden, we don’t want people to not be able to do the same things as other residents can just because they don’t have the transportation or ability to get to them.”

While the SOS is still serving clients to this day, its existing 21-passenger bus is aging and needs to be replaced, Long noted.

“Unfortunately, due to wear and tear, there’s going to be maintenance and parts which don’t exist anymore and have become obsolete.”

Additional details on the Connecting Community campaign by clicking here.

SOS is an impactful 57-year-old non-profit organization providing supportive programming for youth, families and seniors to ease financial strains and enhance social connections.

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