The annual Christmas dinner at Burnaby’s youth prison is on Friday, Dec. 16.
Evelyn Florendo, 80, and a small army of volunteers have put on the event for incarcerated teens for 34 years. Some are estranged from family, some have family who live too far away and some have no family at all.
She invites dignitaries, including Arch Bishop Michael Miller (to bless the meal) and former politicians Bill Vander Zalm and Glen Clark.
Florendo, who was awarded a Governor General’s award in 2012 for her efforts, also gives each teen a gift bag, hugs them and says, “I love you.”
“I always do, and I pray for them every day, too,” she said. “They call me mommy now. They are my children.”
Florendo decided to throw the dinner so many years ago after reading about incarcerated youth who were cutting themselves and attempting suicide while in custody. Within that week, she was sitting down with the director of the Burnaby youth centre and making plans.
Though she’s recently handed over the torch to Roger Bissoondatt, the chief financial officer at the B.C. Liquor Distribution branch, she will continue to attend the festivities.
“I just hope people will appreciate what we do for these children because we really do care and love them. They are lost because of circumstances beyond their control. They are just a victim of broken homes,” she said.
