The annual Christmas in prison celebration at the Burnaby Youth Custody Services Centre will be held on Dec. 14. The young inmates, aged 12 to 17, will be gathered at the gym to celebrate the holidays with dinner, music, games and gifts.
"They look forward to it every year. It's been 29 years that I've been doing it," says Evelyn Florendo, the volunteer organizer of the annual Christmas dinners.
The youth will be served dinner by 20 volunteers from the community and attend lectures from special guests, including B.C. Lions football player Angus Reid, the archbishop of Vancouver, Bill Vander Zalm and his wife Lillian.
"(The youth) have committed some mischief without knowing the consequences. But we still love and care for them," says Florendo, who is in charge of this special Christmas celebration.
"These children are like my own. I love them all."
The food for the dinner is purchased by donations made throughout the community. The inmates also receive gifts of items, such as toiletries, magazines, and sweets.
