J-Van
Partnership
J-Van has a big mission—to see families in Nanaimo thrive!
But to make that happen, we need to get J-Van back on the road and moving strong. That means we’re currently looking for volunteers, financial support, and food donations from local churches, businesses, organizations, and individuals like you.
Ways to Partner
Gift Cards
We accept gift cards to help support our programs!
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Grocery gift cards provide fresh healthy food and supply our BBQs.
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Gas station gift cards keep our van fueled and moving.
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Retail gift cards are great for fun family giveaways.
If you'd like to give this way, please contact us here:​​​
Donate Online
Thank you for considering a gift to support J-Van!
Donations will receive:
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Email confirmation
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A tax-deductible donation receipt for your records
Your partnership makes a lasting difference. Thank you for helping keep J-Van rolling and making our Summer of Joy and community outreach possible!
Food & Drinks
We love providing fresh snacks and fun treats for the kids and families —and you can help make it happen! We’re currently collecting:
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Fresh fruit- apples, oranges, bananas
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Juice boxes and fun snacks, water bottles
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BBQ supplies: Hot dogs, Hot dog buns, Individual chip bags, fruit/veg trays
If you’d like to donate food or gift cards, we can arrange pickup!
e-Transfer
This option offers a faster and more direct way to send funds, with lower service fees—which means more of your gift goes straight to supporting families and programs through J-Van.
Please note: Tax-deductible receipts are not available when using this method.
If you'd like to give this way, please send your donation to:
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How to join as a Volunteer
This year, J-Van is operating in two housing complexes over four weeks. When you apply, you can choose which housing complex and dates. We ask volunteers to commit and be consistent in which day you choose so that you can build relationships with the same families each week.​
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Check the Volunteer Schedule for the days that you can commit to J-Van.
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Click the button below to start the application process. ​
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Attend our Child and Youth Protection Code of Conduct over Zoom. This is a requirement! We will email a Zoom link with the date and time.​​​​
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What is the BBQ day about?This is a free BBQ event that is open for everyone that lives in the community. We'll arrive before 4pm to set up and start serving food at 4:30pm. We'll be around until 6pm but supplies may be limited so don't wait too long to grab a hot dog, a drink and some sides. This is an opportunity for families to meet the J-Van Team and mingle so we'll have chairs and shelter set up– we'll even bring a fire pit to sit around! A few things to keep in mind: we won't have all of the games, crafts and activities that we normally bring and we aren't setting up a check-in table for the kids. That just means the kids won't be under our direct supervision and our team will have more time to spend with you!
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Do parents or guardians have to be present during J-Van?We need a parent or guardian to be available in the complex or your home at all times. However, you don’t need to stay with your child during the J-Van program.
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Where does J-Van go for their summer program?In Summer 2025, we will set up our pop up day camp in two housing complexes in the Harewood neighbourhood. Our hope is to return back and add the complexes that J-Van has served in the past.
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What if my child gets hurt?Our team is equipped to treat minor injuries on site. In the event of an incident, we will complete an incident report and promptly inform the parent or guardian. If professional medical care is required, it is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to seek and arrange that care.
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What are photos of my child used for if I sign the permission slip?With your permission, photos may be used in newsletters, shared with sponsors, or included in promotional material. We will never use or publish photos without your consent.
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Are there costs involved if my child attends J-Van?No, the J-Van program is completely free! We’re grateful to our sponsors who make this possible.
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What if my child has food allergies?Allergies can be listed on the signed permission form. We’ll review each form carefully and ensure that safe, allergy-friendly snacks are provided for your child.
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What if I can only volunteer for one or two days?Our goal is to build relationships with the kids we’re serving. For the sake of consistency we ask that each volunteer commits to either Monday or Wednesday for the duration of the program. If you are willing and able to commit to both days for all four weeks, you are more than welcome!
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What does my role look like?At this time, your role as a volunteer is called a Day Assistant. This role entails work that happens on the day, such as: attending the prayer and planning meeting before the program, packing and unloading the van, prepping the area for the activities, running check in, going door-to-door to invite youth, facilitating games & crafts, tidying up the area, and debriefing the day. Thank you for choosing J-Van to volunteer your time and effort!
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Where do we meet?Volunteers will meet at 170 Wakesiah Ave, Nanaimo, BC V9R 3J9, at 3pm every Mon, Wed, and Fri. The Wakesiah Church has been a gracious and generous host allowing us to store all of our program materials and supplies. Please look up the address before-hand so that you can plan your travel time accordingly.
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Do I need to bring anything when I volunteer?Yes, we recommend each volunteer bring personal snacks, a hat for sun protection and a water bottle. Please be aware that there are no public restrooms available.
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How long is a typical day for a volunteer?A typical volunteer day starts from 3pm until 6:30pm, so plan around 3.5 per volunteer day. This includes Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Our Prayer
“May the Lord cause you to flourish,
Both you and your children.
May you be blessed by the Lord,
The maker of heaven and earth.”
- Psalm 115:14-15
Thank You
To our growing list of donors and partners.
Wakesiah Gospel Chapel
