PRESS RELEASE
March 4, 2019
This week, Lotus Light Charity Society (LLCS) volunteers delivered nearly 1 ton of healthy school snacks and juice to Langley Secondary School, located in one of Metro Vancouver’s rapidly growing municipalities.
A recent survey conducted by the Langley School District Foundation revealed that approximately 3000 kids within the district come to school hungry. Every month, nearly 2000 breakfast meals are served to hungry and low-income students at Langley Secondary School. The school’s breakfast and lunch programs rely on provincial funding that is being threatened due to subsidy cuts and it costs nearly $28,000 a year for the school to feed students who would otherwise go hungry. Many of these students come from families struggling with poverty, are refugees, or are immigrants.
About three years ago, a Langley high-school student was shocked to realize a school friend–who received free meals during school– spent his weekends with little to almost nothing to eat. Katrina Schulz, a friend of the student, stated that “while we were having pasta, salad and garlic bread and dessert for dinner, he had a granola bar.” Together with her peers, Schulz partnered with local grocery stores and the Langley School District Foundation to launch a program that provides 80 students in Langley with bags filled with $10 worth of food and grocery items to take over the weekend.
About three years ago, a Langley high-school student was shocked to realize a school friend–who received free meals during school– spent his weekends with little to almost nothing to eat. Katrina Schulz, a friend of the student, stated that “while we were having pasta, salad and garlic bread and dessert for dinner, he had a granola bar.” Together with her peers, Schulz partnered with local grocery stores and the Langley School District Foundation to launch a program that provides 80 students in Langley with bags filled with $10 worth of food and grocery items to take over the weekend.
“Lotus Light’s Children’s Backpack Program began in 2013 to address the weekend hunger gap for school children in the Downtown Eastside. What initially started as 100 lbs of non-perishable food donations per week has grown to several thousands of pounds each month as Lotus Light strives to expand the reach of its food recovery program with the support of corporate and community partners. Today, we are seeing an even bigger need throughout Metro Vancouver as families and individuals struggle to afford housing and necessities,” said Master Lian Tzi, President of the LLCS.
Thanks to Temple Lifestyle, Lotus Light’s community food sponsor, approximately 1600 lbs of healthy organic snacks and beverages will supplement Langley Secondary School’s three food programs (breakfast, lunch, and a weekend backpack program which will help 120 students in need).
The LLCS would like to extend its gratitude to Temple Lifestyle for helping us relieve students of hunger through this donation!
In the spirit of our motto, “through caring and learning, we help to build a better tomorrow,” the LLCS will continue to help community members in need. The LLCS is a registered non-profit charity dedicated to helping the most vulnerable in our local community. If you would like more information about our multifaceted charity programs, please contact us by Tel: 604-685-5548 or by email: llcsvancouver@gmail.com. Lotus Light Charity Society (Vancouver), #200-357 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1P3, is a registered charity (BN 14110-4893-RR0001). Lotus Light Charity Society (Vancouver) is located in #200-357 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1P3, is a registered charity (BN 14110-4893-RR0001).