What looks like a giant pillow fight is actually a donation made Dec. 20 from Quilts Etc. to the Progressive Housing Society.

The Burnaby-based company asked for the Burnaby Board of Trade's help to identify a suitable charitable organization in the city that would be receptive to an in-kind donation, as the retail outlet didn't know which charitable organization would be appropriate. The board connected Quilts Etc., a new member, with the Progressive Housing Society, a long-time Burnaby-based member.

Quilts Etc. donated 345 pillows to the society, which helps people with mental illness find permanent housing and also facilitates a homelessness outreach program in Burnaby.

The clients who have been chosen to receive new pillows are adults in the community who have been struggling with mental health and homelessness but have received recent Burnaby housing placements from PHS in an effort to live independently. Quilts Etc., has been in business for more than 18 years. This year alone, Quilts Etc. has donated $40,000 worth of products to the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau, in addition to other local charities, according to the board of trade.

RIDING THE RAILS

A winner has been announced for the Metropolis Express fundraising challenge held over the fall and early winter.

Burnaby Hospital Foundation received the $10,000 grant, in addition to all the donations raised on the Metropolis Express during its challenge month, November.

As part of the fall fundraising campaign, more than $36,000 was raised through train rides. (The rides are $1 minimum, but people could donate more to help the featured charity of the month.)

The participating non-profit groups were also encouraged to get people to come out to help raise more money, and the group that got the most in a single "challenge day" won the extra $10,000. (That's on top of the donations coming in throughout the month.)

For September donations, the Progressive Housing Society garnered $6,271. Progressive Housing does outreach work with Burnaby's homeless population. For money raised in October, Stream of Dreams will get $6,315. The group raises awareness about protecting waterways and maintaining healthy habitat for salmon. For November, the Burnaby Hospital Foundation will receive $6,700 plus the $10,000 grand prize grant for mustering up the most donations for their cause in a single day. The foundation raises money to buy hospital equipment. And for December, the Adoptive Families Association of B.C. will receive $7,520. The association has been helping adoptive families for more than 30 years.

Send Burnaby business items and ideas to Janaya, jfuller-evans@burnabynow.com.