Visitors to Burnaby Hospital's patient and family education centre may notice a new Robert Bateman print on the wall, courtesy of the South Burnaby Royal Purple No. 260 and the South Burnaby Elks No. 497.
The print was donated to the Burnaby Hospital Foundation, one of many local charities that get helps from the Royal Purple and Elks. The Elks of Canada is a national fraternal charity, founded in 1912 in Vancouver. (Men join the Elks and women join the Royal Purple.)
There are now Elks lodges throughout the country, each helping their respective communities. The Burnaby Elks have been around since 1959 and the Royal Purple since 1961. They estimate they've donated $100,000 to local charities over the years.
They are always looking for new members. Call Wally at 604-435-7879, Reg at 604-515-7511 or Judy at 604-526-6477.
BRING CHRISTMAS TO YOUTH IN PRISON
It's that time of year again, when the incarcerated kids in Burnaby's youth prison start looking forward to the annual Christmas dinner organized by Vancouver resident Evelyn Florendo. Longtime NOW readers may remember her name from past years, when we featured her in the paper for the work she does, organizing a small army of volunteers (many from the Catholic community) to cook and serve a Christmas dinner for the kids. Florendo also hands out gift-bags to each of the youth and tells them that she loves them.
I had the chance to tag along one year and saw first-hand how the teens enjoy the dinners. Many come from broken homes, and some have parents who don't even bother to visit during the holidays.
"To these children, Christmas is a terribly sad and bitter occasion," Florendo says.
"It (is) very emotional when the young boys and girls come forward to receive a gift bag. Some of them have never experienced receiving anything at Christmas, which makes it even more symbolic of sharing our love, faith and charity, a simple sign of caring."
This year's dinner takes place on Tuesday, Dec. 23. And while Florendo has enough volunteers, she is looking for donations. To help, send cheques, payable to the Burnaby Youth Detention Foundation and mail them to Evelyn Florendo, 6290 Dumfries St. Vancouver, B.C., V5P 3B3.
PUPPIES NEED TEMPORARY HOMES
Burnaby's West Coast Assistance Team is looking for people to take on two puppies who will become assistance dogs for people with disabilities or mental illnesses. Being a volunteer puppy-raiser means taking the dogs out on regular, everyday trips so they get used to being in public. The dogs are trained to do things like pick up keys or turn on lights.
To volunteer, call Sharon Hill at 6042931211. For more info, go to www.westcoastteams.com.
BOOK GIVEAWAY
I have another book to give away, but this one has a special Burnaby twist. We received a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul - the O Canada version - which features heartwarming tales of all things Canadian.
The book's thematic chapters include the cultural mosaic, holidays and traditions, wilderness and wildlife, ice time and "that famous Canadian hospitality." One of the stories in the "winter wonderland" section is A Tale of Two Snowfalls, written by Burnaby's very own Dawn Livera.
Livera is described as an artist, writer, mother and world traveller. Her story is about how she and her husband celebrate their birthdays together instead of Valentine's Day.
The first person who emails me at jmoreau@ burnabynow.com with Chicken Soup in the subject line gets the book. You will need to pick the book up at our office, from Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 p.m.
Send Here & Now ideas to Jennifer, jmoreau@burnaby now.com.
