Each year, The Record compiles a Guide to Giving to let local residents know about the groups and organizations in the community that could use a little extra help for the holidays.
The first two parts ran in the Dec. 9 and 14 editions of The Record. Here is our third and final part.
LOOKOUT EMERGENCY AID SOCIETY
Lookout Emergency Aid Society provides a range of services for homeless individuals or people at risk of homelessness.
Lookout provides programs in New Westminster, Vancouver and the North Shore. In New Westminster, it operates the Cliff Block (23 beds), the Russell Hotel (40 transitional beds and 15 emergency shelter beds) and Rhoda Kaellis residence (24 transitional beds).
"As always, socks and underwear are the biggies," said Dave Brown, community services manager for the society.
In addition to providing housing, the society offers links to various supports in the community.
"We have three different sites in New Westminster," Brown said. "We have Christmas dinners at all three sites for people. We do what we can over the holidays to help folks find a little happiness."
Inexpensive, new gift items such as food, books (for those reading at a Grade 8 or 9 level) and small gifts are always appreciated. Food donations are also welcome and will be used by people living at the three local sites.
For more information about Lookout, visit www.lookoutsociety.bc.ca. To help Lookout, call Dave at 604-523-9126, local 102 or 778-288-8887.
ROYAL CITY HUMANE SOCIETY
The Royal City Humane Society has been dedicated to the cause of helping feral, abandoned and surrendered animals since 1994.
The non-profit society runs foster and spay/neuter programs, provides shelter and adoption operations and advocates for the welfare of animals. It welcomes volunteers for its cat shelter. Cash donations are also appreciated as they can go toward supplies such as cat food and litter. The society has more than 100 cats in foster care and helps provide food and litter for some of those animals, as well as the cat shelter.
For more information or to help the Royal City Humane Society, visit www.rchs.bc.ca or leave a message at 6045246447.
SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army appreciates donations and volunteers throughout the year.
At this time of year, the Salvation Army needs volunteers for its Christmas kettles, the New Westminster Christmas Bureau and its Christmas Day brunch.
"We still need help with our Christmas kettle campaign," said Capt. Dave Macpherson.
While individuals are often seen at Christmas kettles, groups and families can join together and have some fun while collecting cash.
"That's our big local fundraiser," Macpherson said. "It's going really well. We are a hair ahead of last year. We raised $338,000 last year. This year we are ahead of that pace. Our goal is $398,000."
Donations tend to pick up closer to Christmas. They also come in even during tough economic times.
"It seems the worse off we are in the national economy, the more generous people are with the Christmas kettles," Macpherson said. "People respond to the kettles."
More than 200 low-income families with more than 500 children will have a nicer Christmas because of the Christmas Bureau. The New Westminster Christmas Bureau has set up at 616 Sixth St. for the holiday season.
"Toys are always welcome, new toys preferably," Macpherson said. "We use volunteers there as well."
After registering with the Christmas Bureau, parents book an appointment to shop for their children's Christmas presents.
"They walk around with their own personal shopper," Macpherson said. "It's better than bagging the toys and giving them out. It is much more dignified."
Instead of having a Christmas dinner on Dec. 26 as it's done in past years, the Salvation Army is holding a brunch on Dec. 25. The 11 a.m. brunch will be combined with the Salvation Army's Christmas morning service.
In past years, the Christmas dinner has attracted up to 400 people. Because there are a number of dinners held for those in need, the Salvation Army decided to have a meal earlier in the day to spread out the holiday cheer.
In addition to its Christmas offerings, the Salvation Army helps people in need year-round. Non-perishable food items and ready-to-eat items with pop-top lids are much appreciated by those in need, as are socks, underwear and warm clothing.
"We can't have enough socks," Macpherson said.
The Salvation Army runs an emergency shelter as part of the extreme weather strategy. Some of its year-round activities include connecting people with addictions services, offering pro bono legal services, and doing tax returns and advocacy work.
To help the Salvation Army, drop off donations at 325 Sixth St. from 9 a.m. to noon and 1: 30 to 3: 30 p.m. Monday to Friday or call 604-521-2421. Anyone interested in volunteering for the Salvation Army at Christmas or any time of the year can call Jennifer at 604-521-2421.
UNION GOSPEL MISSION
Coffee is the top item on the wish list at the Union Gospel Mission in New Westminster.
The local mission opens is doors at 8: 30 a.m. and serves a full breakfast until 9: 30 a.m. Between 11 a.m. and noon it serves soup and in the afternoon it offers life skills programs to help get people off the streets.
The Union Gospel Mission had corporate support for its coffee donations, which sustained its supply, but those donations have dried up.
"Probably our greatest need is coffee," said manager Bill Wong. "We go through about 600 to 800 cups of coffee a day."
About 200 people visit the Union Gospel Mission each day. It served about 300 people at its recent Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners.
Socks are a yearlong need at the Union Gospel Mission, not only for those living on the streets but for those who have housing and access the mission's services.
"We have a huge cross section from the young 20s to the seniors. The senior is becoming a concern," Wong said. "Being in New Westminster, we are in the middle of the other municipalities. We get whoever comes through."
Cash donations are always appreciated. To help the Union Gospel Mission, call 604-525-8989 or drop by the mission at 658 Clarkson St.
WESTCOAST GENESIS SOCIETY
The Westcoast Genesis Society welcomes food donations for the folks living in its local facilities.
The non-profit organization and registered charity formed in April 2000 to promote the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual well-being of people who are socially marginalized. The society operates Genesis House and Maria Keary Cottage, which provide programs for male offenders on conditional release, for people living with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and for men who are homeless or at risk of homelessness because of physical, social or mental conditions or disabilities.
"We have 55 residents between the two residences that we feed," said executive director Andrew Boyd. "Any food items, whether it's turkeys or canned goods, it always gets used."
For more information about the Westcoast Genesis Society, visit www. westcoastgenisissociety.ca or call 604-515-2950.
YOU WEAR IT WELL
Local students who may not be able to celebrate their high school graduation because of financial struggles can attest to the importance of a local program.
A small group of women formed You Wear It Well - Just For Grads, a nonprofit society, to help underprivileged students from New Westminster Secondary School attend their graduation celebration with pride. The group welcomes donations of cash, gift certificates and formal wear.
"The program is now in its third year," said Cindy Carlson, one of the non-profit society's founders. "We have had two successful years and lots of smiling grads because of it. We will be continuing to support the grads of 2012."
You Wear It Well - Just For Grads also appreciates donations of attire that's suitable for graduation (in a range of styles), in-kind and cash donations, as well as gift certificates for services such as hair, makeup and manicures/pedicures. In addition to providing the grads with outfits, the program gives them a little gift bag that includes some of the items they may need, such as deodorant and a camera to capture memories of the event.
Because some students' families don't have the money to cover the costs that go along with attending grad, the society formed to help provide clothing for the big day. The founders believe that those students deserve to celebrate their educational accomplishments with their friends.
Donations can be sent to the Royal City Education Foundation (c/o You Wear It Well - Just for Grads in the memo box), 1001 Columbia St., second floor, New Westminster, V3M 1C4.
