This year, the Lotus Light Charity Society (LLCS) is celebrating its twenty-sixth anniversary of hosting the Annual Winter Charity Drive. The LLCS will distribute sleeping bags, winter clothing items, hygiene items, and winter-care survival kits to help save lives this winter season. LLCS volunteers are currently collecting in-kind donations of canned goods and non-perishable food items to support the LLCS Children’s Backpack Program; this program will help food programs at several low-income elementary schools throughout East Vancouver.
To support these initiatives, the LLCS is welcoming any generous donations from public citizens. 100% of your donations will go towards providing warmth, hope, and comfort to thousands of homeless and impoverished residents living in poverty across metro Vancouver, particularly in the Downtown Eastside (DTES).
On Saturday, December 7, 2019, at 2:30 pm, the LLCS will host a presentation for the 2019 Winter Charity Drive at the charity building. The LLCS will present the donation of 60,000 items to representatives of the Vancouver Police Department Homeless Outreach Program, the BC Ambulance Service, low-income family assistance groups, and inner-city schools.
VIP guests who will be in attendance are Ms. Jenny Kwan (MP for Vancouver East) and City Councillors Ms. Michaele Wiebe, Ms. Sara Kirby-Yung, Ms. Rebecca Bligh, and Mr. Pete Fry. After the presentation, the LLCS will publicly distribute winter care packages and items directly to the street homeless at the LLCS building at 347 E. Hastings Street. The LLCS welcomes community volunteers, partner community service organizations, and local media representatives to attend our annual community caring event!
“The greatest thing we can do is to help someone in need. Let’s work together to bring warmth and hope to help the homeless survive the cold this winter,” said Buddhist Master Lian Tzi, President of Lotus Light.
Lotus Light’s Annual Winter Charity Drive Program relies on financial and in-kind donations from individuals, local businesses, and corporate donors. The Winter Charity Drive 2019-20 campaign will continue its annual distribution of 100+ sleeping bags, blankets, and emergency care packages in partnership with local police and ambulance first responders, local shelters, and family service agencies throughout the Lower Mainland.
The LLCS sincerely appreciates the support from the following sponsors for making our program possible: Ocean Brands, Superstore (on Grandview Hwy), Superstore (in King George), Sahota’s No Frills, Walmart (in Metrotown), Hyatt Regency (Downtown Vancouver), Starbucks (City Square), Starbucks (Hastings and Kaslo, International Village, and Terminal Ave), Terra Breads, Discovery Organics, Canadian Red Cross Society, Save-on-Foods (on Cambie Street and Main Street), St. Germain Bakery, New Town Bakery and Restaurant, Ba-Le Deli and bakery, Hai Phong Vietnamese Restaurant, Freshslice (on Abbott Street), Direct Liquidation, and more proud sponsors!
If you would like to make a monetary donation, please make the cheque payable to the “Lotus Light Charity Society” and mail it to the following address: Lotus Light Charity Society, #200 357 E. Hastings St, Vancouver BC V6A 1P3. You can also donate online by Visa or Mastercard on our website: http://vllcs.org/en/donation/. Tax receipts are available for donations of $20 or more.
In the spirit of our motto “through caring and learning, we help to build a better tomorrow,” the LLCS will continue to help those 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, please email us at llcsvancouver@gmail.com or call us at 604-685-5548. The Vancouver LLCS is a non-profit organization registered with the Government of Canada. Our registration number is BN14110-4893-RR0001.
