Donation Independent Drive: 2014

Another trip and another chance to share this with new volunteers! We had the pleasure of having members from the AdventureFive-0 Meet up group with us as we help the women, men and children of East Vancouver with food, clothing and many other donations. Each visit is approximately 2 hours and many people helped with the food preparation and distribution (amongst other very heart warming tasks).

I just wanted to say to the 'first timers' that Ulrike, John, Anne, CJ, Laurie, Danielle - you all added a strong presence of true compassion and human spirit today ....YOU have made a difference in these people lives today, and in mine. Thank you for opening up your heart and for the gentle caring you have shown many of the people downtown today. Days like this remind us that we are indeed here to help take care of each other. Oddly enough we were all soaked with rain but somehow still smiling at the end of the day.... Amazing people - Great trip everyone! Now if I can just figure out how to make a living doing this every day~ hmmm =)

Here is a bit more about what we do:

It is said that true compassion is doing something for another who cannot do anything for you~

What is it?

We take items that you no longer need and give them directly to the people who can most benefit from them – on the streets and in shelters. We also take yummy sandwiches & nourishing treats to help with hunger pains.

How do we do it?

We pick up seasonal used clothing, hygiene products, linens and take them directly to the people on the streets 4 times per year.

How can I help?

You clear your clutter, give it a second life and call us to pick it up~ It’s Easy!

What We Collect

Women’s, Men’s and Kid’s Items:

All sizes SEASONAL clothes:

v Layered shirts, (i.e. tank tops, long sleeved shirts and heavier pullovers), pants (jeans and dark colours) heavy cotton, sweaters, jackets, gloves, toques, shoes, runners, boots, belts.

v New undergarments, socks, belts etc.

v Bras, socks, new undergarments, etc.

v Non-electronic games and toys.

v Books, arts and craft items etc.

Plus: Basic hygiene products, toothpaste/brushes, soap, hand sanitizers, shampoos, deodorants, hairbrushes, hairclips, razors, Q-tips, Band-Aids, toenail clippers, feminine and incontinence products, etc.

Miscellaneous Items:

v Sleeping bags, bed linens, towels/facecloths.

v Backpacks spill proof water bottles/coffee mugs.

v Gift cards (i.e. Grocery stores, Phone cards etc.)

Please contact us for a more detailed list~

“We would all like to think that if we ever needed it, someone would help us…”

As we all spent this years Easter holiday with our loved ones, I can't think of a better time to bring our thoughts and love to the many people on the streets who may not have the blessing of a family to surround them. The one thing I have noticed every time we go down is the interaction between the people who live on the streets, they take care of each other in a way that is akin to a family, they protect each other, will give their sandwich to their friend if they have already eaten a meal today and someone else has not, and always, always tell our group how much they appreciate us thinking of them and coming down. What a great family~

We could not call ourselves compassionate beings if we didn't feel concern for people less fortunate than we are - which is why many of us donate our time, money and items we may have freely. People have said this creates a dependency on charity and entrenches a life on the streets, short term help may be of no help at all. It is exactly for this reason that we must not stop here. If all we did was drop off boxes every 3 months and watch the downtown core getting smaller in our rear-view mirror as we drive back to our homes - there may be a slight shortsightedness to our brand of help. We have been lucky enough to have been asked by the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre (DEWC) to help put together a "new apartment" for a very brave and strong woman who is transitioning from living on the street to having her own apartment and with continued support, a self sustaining lifestyle. This is that one step beyond creating dependency - we are helping her with items* yes, but also with our emotional support as one might a family member or a friend who needs help through the rough patches in order to be able to stand on their feet again. The idea of not creating dependency is to not STOP helping people - follow through as you would with a friend, look for all areas of help needed, one-on-one time, don't be a drive by volunteer - stay awhile, make it part of how you live your life, looooonger acts of kindness with commitment, dedication and integrity =) A presence they will depend on to know they CAN go to the next stage or their life with our help...We are NOT done helping people when we drive away~ Family always needs our help right?
*A special thanks to Dave and all of the rest of the people who have rallied together and given up many of the beloved items from their family homes to create a new one for this lovely woman~

Besides men's and women's clothes, shoes, bags of toiletries (thanks Lesley), back packs, water bottles(Oxygen Yoga and Fitness, New Westminster) etc., we had volunteers (Bev and Irene) make over 300 cookies (puts Betty Crocker to shame) made and handed out 130 lunch bags (one of a kind works of art designed by the Kindergarten and Grade 4 class at Holly Elementary School) delivered 60 lbs of books and magazines (thank you Reading Between the Wines Book Club ladies) and helped over 200 people who are on the streets of downtown Vancouver. We gratefully acknowledge all the help from our group and contributors this trip:

Volunteers: Jen, Pierre, Jacob, Laurissa, Lynda,Craig, Nicky, Ryan, Bev.
Individual Donations: Lesley, Elizabeth, Bev, Kyle (large bulk of the men's clothes), Scott, Holly, Dawson, Craig, Drew, Jacob, Dave, Irene, Wally, Reading between the Wines Book Club (Ingrid, Ana, Yvette, Bobbi).
Company Donations: Superstore, Costco, Town and Country, Delta, Oxygen Yoga & Fitness, New Westminster.