Entering into 2015, Lotus Light Charity Society Vancouver has initiated many new programs. Recently the Charity has donated a large quantity of household items to support kids in inner city schools. New 300 bedsheets, 120 duvet pillows, 450 pillow cases, 2300 shampoo, 22000 lotions, 8100 soaps, 2000 sewing kits, and 1600Qtips were shared between 3 elementary schools namely, Admiral Seymour, Grandview, and Queen Alexander, and Strathcona Community Centre’s Backpack Program. Delivery was sent by dedicated volunteers of Lotus Light Charity Society Vancouver, a registered non-profit whose one of its major and most successful project is Annual Winter Charity Drive. Winter Charity Drive donates large volumes of winter garments (scarves, toques, gloves, socks, snacks, heat pads), sleeping bags and foods to Vancouver and Richmond’s homeless, low-income individuals/families and single-parent families who are in line of poverty.
Strathcona Community Centre is right next to Vancouver’s oldest elementary school, located in the heart of Vancouver’s Downtown East side. Many children who grow up in this neighborhood have had little or no access to the kinds of creative and life-affirming opportunities afforded children in more affluent neighbourhoods. Kids from Strathcona typically live in poverty and are from single parent families who struggle to make ends meet each day. They are so clearly vulnerable and that’s why Lotus Light Charity Society sponsors and is still now, Strathcona’s Backpack Program to give non-perishable foods to support their food security program where each end of the week on a Friday, kids are sent home with a backpack of donated foods from LLCS and other resources. LLCS has been supporting this vital program for over a year.
Admiral Seymour Elementary is located a few blocks from Strathcona and also runs a backpack program to send a backpack containing foods for children to take home on Fridays. Kids are also supplied with snacks after school which are donated. LLCS donations will be sorted and packed the next day for parents to take home when they come to pick up their kids after school. Bed bugs and hair lice is an existing problem at school so LLCS bedlinen and shampoo donations arrived at the perfect time!
Grandview Elementary expressed to Lotus Light about lice infestation too. About 70% children are aboriginal and are living in rental subsidized housing from Ministry. These families cannot afford new bedlinen supplies. When Lotus Light delivery arrived, kids of After-school Daycare Program and Coordinator Dave, helped unload a full van of donations.
The Wishing Tree Family Program of Queen Alexander Elementary, received a full van of donations too. With help from Principal Cheryl and teachers, in a few minutes, their upstairs storage room for families to shop for nonperishable foods, are full of new items. “Through our Wishing Tree, parents can come in to shop for stuff they need including Lotus Light’s donations which are a great addition,” said Cheryl Mathews, Principal of Queen Alexander.
Lotus Light Charity Society relies on your generosity and public supports for its programs. Donations are 100% used to support the LLCS 2015 campaign to provide hot meals, winter emergency care packages and sleeping bags, and continue much needed community programs to benefit the impoverished, homeless and low-income children, families and seniors in the Lower Mainland. Income tax receipts are issued for donations over $20. Please contact Lotus Light Charity Society Vancouver @604-685-5548 or email: llcsvancouver@gmail.com. In the spirit of its motto “Through caring and learning, we help to build a better tomorrow” Lotus Light Charity Society (Vancouver) is a registered non-profit charity dedicated to helping the most vulnerable in our local community for over 20 years!