This past Saturday, February 28th, Lotus Light Charity Society’s (“LLCS”) Vancouver Chapter volunteers were once again at Oppenheimer Park to bring some warmth and hope to the homeless in the downtown Eastside (DTES).
There was a sense of community connection as LLCS volunteers offered bowls of hot chicken rice soup, pastries and baked goods, in addition to care packages of essential toiletry items to a lineup of over 200 homeless at Oppenheimer Park. As the cool afternoon sunshine in the park gave way to ‑2 Celsius evening temperatures, it was hard to imagine the daily challenge of staying warm outdoors 24/7 without adequate access to basic food, shelter and hygiene. Remarkably, the Oppenheimer Park is located in a city that boasts some of the most expensive real estate prices in the world. In stark contrast, abject poverty, homelessness, mental illness and addiction is a common thread amongst the hundreds of homeless who struggle to survive on the streets in the Vancouver DTES community.
Due to confidentiality reasons, the following stories were recently collected and anonymously shared by a community outreach agency partner in Lotus Light’s annual winter charity drive distribution of care packages and sleeping bags to those in need, not just in the DTES but throughout the Lower Mainland
- “C is a man in his forties, he was stabbed 17 times last year when someone tried to rob him. He sleeps in a parks board bathroom because he feels safe there. On a nightly basis the park ranger locks him in the bathroom and unlocks it in the morning. Mr. C tells me he feels safe because no one can enter while he is sleeping, he has access to a washroom and warms his hands with the hand dryer. He tells me that the washroom is like an ice box at night, he nearly cried when I gave him the sleeping bag today.”
- “H is a senior, he is receiving CPP but has issues with alcohol. He sleeps on a piece of cardboard in alley. He is not ready to enter treatment as yet, but I know that the sleeping bag and care packages will make him more comfortable in his situation.” ”
- “R is a man in his 40s, he has severe anger issues and mental issues and does not want to accept help or be bothered anyone. He sleeps on a discarded mattress in an underground parking lot. After delivering food to him for the last 2 years, today I offered him one of your sleeping bags, he smiled at me and then thanked me. I said it was from Lotus Light, not me. His expression of gratitude and smile is more progress than I have made with him in 2 years.”
- “P is an immigrant, he has been here for 2 years, but he does not understand the requirements of Income Assistance to maintain eligibility. He is confused, proud and uncooperative. He sleeps under a ramp for access to a parking lot. The outreach workers tell me it breaks their heart to see him as he looks like a lump of garbage under the ramp. He is sleeping on cardboard boxes and he has a donated blanket which a church provided to keep himself warm. I provided food, a sleeping bag and your care package to him. He was very appreciative as he has no income whatsoever.”
- “M is a man in his 50s, he is in a wheelchair and homeless. As I was distributing your sleeping bags in a back alley, he wheeled by. He knows me and politely asked if he could have one too. I asked him if he was still homeless, he said yes. I provided one to him too.”
- “All of these clients have physical or mental health issues or drug and alcohol issues. Some are receiving income assistance, some are not, the one thing they have in common is that they are all homeless and in desperate need. They are forecasting a cold weekend coming up, and it warms my heart to know that with your generous assistance, they will all be a little more comfortable and significantly warmer this weekend. I cannot thank you enough for assisting me in fulfilling this need. Your kindness and generosity is amazing!”
Making a positive difference is simply what we can choose to do. LLCS (Vancouver) is extremely grateful for the amazing support of some businesses in our local community:
- Terra Breads Olympic Village
- Trumps Breads
- Canadian Hotel Supply
LLCS relies on public supports and your generosity for its charity programs. Your 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!