It can be easy to lose track of time – especially what day it is – when behind bars.
So for some teens at Burnaby’s youth prison, the annual Christmas dinner put on by Vancouver resident Evelyn Florendo is a nice reminder the holidays have arrived.
“We forget what’s going on,” said one inmate.
“It just brings everyone together,” said another.
On Dec. 15, Florendo, 81, hosted her 35th dinner at the Burnaby Youth Services Custody Centre – an event run by some 12 volunteers that included live entertainment by Rock Paper Moon, a turkey feast with all the fixings (and pizza, too), and a drumming performance.
The idea is to bring some holiday cheer to the incarcerated teens, some who are estranged from family or are too far from home.
The dinner was a first for 16-year-old Randy (names have been changed for privacy reasons). He told the NOW while Christmas was “a very boring time” prior to going to jail, he found the dinner “lively.”
“It’s funny because you’re sitting here, and you’re expecting everybody to get up and start fighting each other, but you know, it’s a very respectable time,” he said.
“You kind of have to make the best of the situation,” he said of serving time at the centre. “It’s jail. There’s nothing much you can do about it. Everyone makes a wrong turn or two.”
Inmate Dan, who’s attended the dinner twice, described it as “pretty fun” and “pretty cool.”
“The food is always amazing,” he said. “(Evelyn’s) such a sweet woman. (It’s important) for kids in jail to remember it’s Christmas.”
Dan said Christmas used to be a big deal a few years ago before his mom died.
“It got really depressing (after), but I guess my family always came together for Christmas. It just reminds me of that. I like Christmas. I love it. My mom used to love it, so I love it,” he said with a smile.
Inmate Judy, who co-emceed the evening, call the event “wonderful.”
“It’s nice for us. We’re usually sitting on unit.”
Around 25 youth came to the dinner – the lowest attendance ever, according to organizer Roger Bissoondatt. Bissoondatt, the chief financial officer at the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch, has been involved with the event for 32 years.
“I think some of the kids were sent home earlier this week or last week. We were anticipating between 50 and 60. I mean, it’s a good sign that the numbers are down because I’ve attended and saw 110, 120 kids,” he said.
Bissoondatt added he never expected the dinner to go on for as many years as it has.
For Florendo – a widower, devout Catholic and grandmother of three – the dinner is all about the children and bringing a smile to their faces. She started the supper after reading a newspaper article on how incarcerated teens in Burnaby were committing suicide and cutting themselves.
“I really love them. I feel like they are like my own,” she said.
As always, the evening ended with Florendo giving each youth a gift bag.
She kisses them on the cheek and says “I love you.”
