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Guide to Giving: How you can help others helping those in need in New West

2015 Guide to Giving
Aunt Leah's
Buying a tree at Aunt Leah's tree lot is just one of the ways you can help others in need this Christmas.

New Westminster is known for being a generous community where residents and businesses help those in need – at Christmas and beyond.

The Record launched the Guide to Giving in 1996 as a way of connecting residents with local non-profits that could use their help, whether it was a few hours of their time, a cash donation or some specific items on a wish list. Here are some of the local non-profit organizations who could use a bit of assistance to carry on with their good works on a variety of different fronts including homelessness, youth and children, animals and the arts.

Arts Council of New Westminster

What it does: The Arts Council of New Westminster is the hub for the arts in New Westminster. It believes the arts are an imperative component in community building and facilitating cross cultural understanding.  The arts council offers a wide variety of barrier-free access to arts activities and advocates for the arts in an effort to fulfill its mission of bringing the community together through the arts.

Christmas wishlist: The ACNW is accepting donations to a facility-improvement fund so it can increase the number of free and affordable events, classes and spaces it offers to the community.

Contact: Stephen Carl O'Shea, 604-525-3244, info@artscouncilnewwest.org.

Aunt Leah’s Place

What it does:  Incorporated as a society in 1988, Aunt Leah’s Place helps prevent children in foster care from becoming homeless when they age out of the system and lose government support, and helps mothers in need from losing custody of their children.  Aunt Leah’s Place provides supported housing, pre-employment training and coaching in essential life skills, as well as programs for youth and moms who have aged out of foster care.

Christmas wish list: You can help Aunt Leah’s mission of supporting foster youth this holiday season by purchasing a Christmas tree from one of their four charity tree lots (Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam and North Vancouver) or by making a donation directly through their website. Aunt Leah’s website includes full list of items youth and moms have requested for Christmas, but some of the most requested items are gift cards (all kinds), bus tickets, men’s and women’s socks, children’s socks, movie tickets, makeup kits, men’s hoodies (in dark colours and in large and extra-large), hygiene products, bath products, pyjamas (adult female, small and extra-large).

Contact: auntleahs.org or call 604-525-1204.

Blind Beginnings

What it does: Founded in 2008, Blind Beginnings is a New Westminster based, charitable organization serving B.C. children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families. In addition to play groups, clubs, workshops, and leadership programs for blind children from birth to 19 years of age, it offers support groups and workshops for parents, family community discovery outings and family summer adventure camps.

Christmas wish list: Blind Beginnings’ Christmas wish is for key business sponsorships for its 2016 gala dinner and auction fundraiser, which helps raise essential revenues for its programs and build community awareness and support. Next year’s gala is set for April 9.

Contact: Shawn Marsolais at 604-434-7243 or shawn@blindbeginnings.ca. For more information go to www.blindbeginnings.ca.

Food Bank

What it does: The Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing food and related assistance to those in need. Each week, 26,500 people access the society’s services (including some in New West) through 14 distribution locations and partnerships with close to 100 community agencies. Twenty per cent of its members are children and 19 per cent are seniors.

Christmas Wish list: The Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society appreciates donations of food, funds and time. For every dollar donated, it’s able to purchase at least $3 worth of food. For food donations the food bank is on the lookout for the following high-protein, whole grain, lower sodium (salt), lower sugar items: canned fish or meats; canned beans, kidney beans, black beans and chickpeas; 100 per cent nut butters; pasta; rice; canned vegetables; pasta sauces; canned fruit packed in its own juice or water; whole grain breakfast cereals; and hearty soups, stews and chilis.

Contact: Greater Vancouver Food Bank, 1150 Raymur Ave., Vancouver, BC V6A 3T2 or 604-876-3601. To volunteer, donate food or funds or get more information, visit www.foodbank.bc.ca

Honour House

What it does: Provides a free-of-charge, temporary home, in New Westminster, for members of the Canadian Armed Forces, veterans and emergency services personnel and their families as they travel to receive medical care and treatment in the Metro Vancouver area.

Christmas wish list:Gardening tools; maintenance tools; cleaning products; kitchen supplies;bathroom supplies;new pillows;video games;games consoles;LED soft light lightbulbs;office supplies; financial donations; and volunteers

Contact:Craig Longstaff, general manager, at 778-397-4399. Donations can be mailed to Honour House Society, 509 St. George St., New Westminster, B.C., V3L 1L1. More info at www.honourhouse.ca.

KidSport New Westminster

What it does: KidSport New West is part of a national organization that reduces financial barriers facing families by providing funding for registration fees for organized sports. Fees are climbing higher each year but KidSport believes in the positive benefits the #giftofsport can provide local kids.

Christmas wish list: Cash donations.

Contact: You can donate directly to New Westminster kids through www.KidSport.ca. For info on the New West chapter, a volunteer-run committee, email info@kidsportnewwest.ca or call 778-388-3930.

Lookout Emergency Aid Society

What it does: Lookout provides a continuum of low-barrier housing for homeless and under-housed individuals from the North Shore to Abbotsford, including a number of services in New West.  Its services include outreach workers out on the street, drop-in centres for food and connection to services, homeless shelters, transition housing and supportive housing.

Christmas wish list: At Christmas, Lookout is short on new clothing items (tags on) for presents, medium-sized jackets and sweaters. It gives out 1,500 gifts each year to its clients in housing. Donations of new underwear and socks, as well as gently-used pants in sizes 30 to 34 are also appreciated. Year-round, Lookout’s wish list includes: cold and wet weather items (coats, blankets, socks, scarves etc.); toiletries; items for the shelter, such as men’s sweat pants, gently used clothing for men and women, toothbrushes and travel-sized toiletries; work-related items such as work boots, jeans, heavy-duty gloves and bus tickets; and items to help folks get set up in a new home, such as bedding, cleaning supplies and bath and kitchen items.

Contact: developmentcoord@lookoutsociety.ca or visit www.lookoutsociety.ca.

Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families

What it does:A non-profit agency incorporated under the Society Act in 1983, Purpose now has more than 120 employees providing a variety of social, health and educational programs to Lower Mainland communities, including an independent high school, family and youth services, a number of licensed child care facilities and HIV/HepC programs. It provides services to approximately 2,000 children, youth and families each year. For the past 24 years, the society has offered a hamper program for individuals and families involved in its programs.

Christmas wish list: Food or groceries gift cards; personal hygiene products; and printers. The society is putting together gift bags for men and women and welcomes chocolates, men’s gloves, mittens, socks, scarves and underwear. Food and cash donations are appreciated year-round.

Contact: Lynda Fletcher-Gordon – 604-526-2522 or info@purposesociety.org.

Massey Theatre

What it does: Massey Theatre entertains an average of 100,000 people annually, hosts an average 215 performances and events, and contributes to many programs and services that assist in the sustainability of local organizations and community activities.

Christmas wish list: Donate $1 for every year you have enjoyed the Massey Theatre or purchase gift certificates for tickets to future Massey Theatre events.

Contact: www.masseytheatre.com or 604-517-5900.

Monarch Place

What it does: Women In Need Gaining Strength – WINGS – offers Monarch Place, an emergency first-stage shelter for women and children, Chrysalis Place second-stage house, outreach support services and other community programs.

Christmas wish list: Monarch Place welcomes items such as towels and face cloths, dish towels and dish cloths, birthday cards and gift bags, boxes of chocolates or Christmas candy, pantry goods, coffee, office supplies, deodorant, makeup, nail polish, tampons, umbrellas and large Rubbermaid and Tupperware containers.

Contact: 604-521-1888 or visit www.monarchplace.org.

New Westminster Family Place

What it does: Family Place offers parent education programs, support groups, volunteer programs and free drop-ins (including playtime, crafts and snack time) for children and their parents. It offers drop-in programs Monday to Friday at its main location at 93 Sixth St. It also operates a drop-in at Lord Kelvin Elementary School on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 to 11 a.m. (while school is in session) and at the Hospitality Project at Shiloh Sixth Avenue United Church on food bank days.

Christmas wish list: Apple juice, toilet paper and volunteers for the playroom.

Contact: 604-520-3666.

New Westminster Firefighters’ Charitable Society

What it does: Works to improve life in New Westminster by raising awareness and/or funds through fundraisers such as the Christmas tree chipping, Canucks Alumni charity hockey game and many more events. The society’s 90-plus members are continually volunteering their time for causes within the community to help those who are in need.

Christmas wish list: This Christmas, the New Westminster Firefighters’ Charitable Society is collecting new unwrapped toys, non-perishable food items and donations that will be distributed within New Westminster. 

Contact: Glenbrook Fire Hall at 1 East Sixth Ave. or 604-519-1000. To see what events are coming up check out the event calendar on the city’s website at www.newwestcity.ca. 

Royal City Humane Society:

What it does: Founded in 1994 to deal with the pet overpopulation problem in New Westminster, the Royal City Humane Society operates a shelter where volunteers provide care for injured, stray and abandoned cats; other animals are housed in foster homes.  All animals are tested for disease, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and tattooed or microchipped. The society provides feeding stations at various locations for feral cats as part of a trap/neuter/release program, promotes public awareness of animal welfare problems designed to further and ensure the fair and proper treatment of animals and provides financial assistance to low-income pet owners for veterinary and other costs, when funds are available.

Christmas wish list: Cat food and treats; bleach; eco-friendly laundry soap (not tested on animals); eco-friendly dish soap (not tested on animals); paper towels; AA batteries; computer paper; postage stamps. The society also asks all cat lovers to ensure their pets are spayed/neutered and contact the group if they need financial assistance with this cost

Contact: Gail Beau, president, at abigailbeau@icloud.com. You can reach the humane society at 604-524-6447 or rchs-inquiries@rchs.bc.ca, find more information at rchs.bc.ca or on Facebook. Donations can be mailed to Royal City Humane Society at PO Box 47243, Royal City PO, New Westminster, BC V3L 0A5.

Salvation Army

What it does: Provides a variety of services to people in need including a Saturday morning brunch, a community lunch on Sundays after its regular church service, and produce distribution every Wednesday. The Salvation Army provides brand new beds to low-income individuals for a reduced price through a Sweet Dreams program.

Christmas wish list: The Salvation Army is seeking to raise $250,000 through its annual Christmas kettle campaign. Cash (and even cheques) can be deposited in kettles around New Westminster and the Tri-Cities. The dream gift is a one-tonne truck for the Sweet Dreams program, so it doesn’t have to use the same truck currently used to transport produce.

Contact: 604-521-0363 or drop by 325 Sixth St.

St. Barnabas Church

What it does: Provides a variety of outreach programs including a community lunch and an emergency food cupboard. St. Barnabas also holds community events such as its annual Christmas Day dinner and its annual Posada, which includes a candlelit parade around the neighbourhood, a Mexican meal and piñatas for the kids.

Christmas Wish list: St. Barnabas welcomes donations for its Posada meal, such as hot chocolate, baked sweets, as well as candies and small toys to stuff in the piñatas. It also appreciates items such as socks, underwear and goodies for men, ladies and children, toiletries and toys for kids – items that can be stuffed into the small gift bags that will be handed out at the church’s Christmas Day dinner.

Contact:  Call the church office at 604-526-6646 or drop by 1010 Fifth Ave., Tuesday to Friday between 10 a.m. and noon.

Union Gospel Mission

What it does:The Union Gospel Mission in New Westminster offers a full breakfast from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., followed by soup and other food later in the morning. The meal is the mission’s first point of contact with individuals and helps them make a connection that allows them to move people toward life skills, recovery meetings, counselling and other programs.

Christmas wish list: Cash donations and coffee are always appreciated, as are deodorant, socks, underwear and razors for men and women. Volunteers are always welcome.

Contact: 604-525-8989 or 658 Clarkson St.

VEATA

What it does: Founded in 2008, VEATA (Volunteer Education and Assistance Team for Animals) is a New Westminster-based registered charity that assists both individuals and other animal rescue groups across Metro Vancouver, and other regions when possible. Its mandate is to educate the public on the humane treatment of animals, responsible pet ownership, disaster preparedness, and other related topics; to assist needy pet owners in caring for their pets by providing spays/neuters and other necessary care; to provide temporary care and shelter for animals in event of emergency or disaster; and to provide short-term foster care for animals of people in crisis or transition.

Wish list: Foster homes for pets of people in crisis; volunteers for community events and fundraising; assistance with preparing educational materials; donations to assist low-income pet owners. VEATA also requests that you don't give live animals as a Christmas gift - give a stuffed animal, picture or certificate and adopt (don't buy) the pet after the holidays

Contact: Cheryl Rogers, president at petsRpeople2@shaw.ca or reach VEATA at 604-457-3662 or veatasociety@gmail.com. You can follow VEATA on Facebook and mail donations to Box 31, 667 Columbia St., New Westminster, B.C., V3M 1A8.

Westminster House

What it does: Westminster House offers a long-term residential recovery centre for women who are recovering from addictions.

Christmas wish list: Socks, umbrellas, rain boots, rain jackets, gloves, Starbucks gift cards, and bedding sets, pillows and duvets for single beds. The big-ticket items on this year’s wish list are a stacking washer and dryer and a couple of single beds. Financial donations are always appreciated.

Contact: Susan or Kristy at 604-524-5633 or send donations to Westminster House, 228 Seventh St., New Westminster, V3M 3K3.

You Wear it Well

What it does: You Wear It Well – Just for Grads is dedicated to helping New Westminster and Burnaby students find grad outfits - at no cost - that make them look and feel their best. 

Christmas wish list: Cash donations, gently used formal wear – gowns, shoes, jewelry, purses, accessories.

Contact: Kathy at 778-231-7184 or You Wear It Well on Facebook.