Lotus Light’s 2023 Annual Winter Charity Drive: Public Distribution of Winter Care Packages and Resource to Vancouver’s Street Homeless

On Saturday, December 16, 2023 Lotus Light Charity Society (Vancouver) held its 2023 Annual Winter Drive Event to distribute much needed winter emergency care packages and resources to Vancouver’s street homeless through our community partners.

“I believe that through love and care, we can inspire each other to do our best to make our community better,” said Buddhist Master Lian Tzi, President of Lotus Light.

In a statement, Premier David Eby congratulated Lotus Light on its 30th anniversary and said that Lotus Light’s “efforts to provide emergency relief through the harsh winter months this has a profound positive impact on the most vulnerable in our society.”

Lotus Light Charity Society presented donations of winter care packages and emergency survival backpacks to representatives of the Vancouver Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Program, the BC Ambulance Service, the City of Vancouver’s Temporary Emergency Shelters, and the Richmond outreach team of the B.C. Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. As part of this event, Lotus Light also donated gift cards and grocery foods to inner-city schools, and donated rice to community food bank to help low-income families in our community.

After the presentation, Lotus Light hosted a public distribution of winter care packages and 500 free lunches directly to people experiencing homelessness. Several VIP guests participated in this distribution in front of Lotus Light’s head office at 347 East Hastings Street, including MP Jenny Kwan, MLA Joan Philip, Vancouver Deputy Mayor and City Councillor Lenny Zhou, Councillor Pete Fry, and representatives of social service organizations.

MP Jenny Kwan congratulated Lotus Light on its 30th anniversary, and noted that it was her 30th year in elected office as well, saying that “I have done this for about 30 years now and it just gives me such great pleasure to see the smiling faces and the appreciation” from people in the community.

MLA Joan Phillip thanked Lotus Light and said, “I want to hold my hands up to you for lifting people up because we need more of that.”

MLA Henry Yao thanked Lotus Light as well and said, “In the end, we can love one another and work together, so we want to take this opportunity to say thank you.”

Vancouver City Councillors Pete Fry and Lenny Zhou read a statement from Mayor Ken Sim congratulating Lotus Light on its 30th anniversary. Councillor Fry noted that he lives only a couple blocks away and that the Winter Charity Drive is one of his favourite events of the year, and Councillor Zhou noted that it’s important during this time to remember the real meaning of the holiday season, which is to give back to the community and help the underprivileged.

Lotus Light’s 2023 Annual Winter Charity Drive, now in its 28th year, relies on financial and in-kind donations from individuals and corporate supporters to continue its campaign to distribute emergency care packages and hot lunches directly to homeless people, or through local shelters and social service agencies, including British Columbia Ambulance Service and the VPD’s Homeless Outreach Program.

To-date, over 600,000 winter garments (toques, scarves, gloves, socks, etc.), new sleeping bags, non-perishable food items, and personal hygiene products have been distributed to benefit the impoverished and homeless in the Lower Mainland.

Lotus Light’s 2023 Annual Winter Charity Drive sincerely appreciates sponsorship and support from: City of Vancouver 2023 Homeless Service Grant, NOVAGOLD, Donald’s Market, Leon Judah Blackmore Foundation, Real Canadian Superstore, Big K Clothing, Western Rice Mills, Canda Six Fortune, Fresh Direct Produce, Trumps Bakery, Saint Germain Bakery, Save-On-Foods, Terra Breads Bakery, Ba Le Bakery, Golden Seafood Restaurant, Pink Pearl Restaurant, Phnom Penh Restaurant and more, as well as to volunteer teams of Collingwood CPC, Strathcona CPC, Grandview-Woodland CPC, Chinese CPC, Vancouver Aboriginal CPC and

Project Hastings.

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 further information, please contact us by telephone at (604)685-5548 or email at llcsvancouver@gmail.com