ILFFY, or Independent Living for Families and Youth, is a series of ongoing workshops designed to help youth and families work towards successful independent living. The following ILFFY workshops are organized for February 2010:

February 2010: Legal Resources

Wednesday, February 3, 2010
5pm-7pm
Sexual Self Esteem
Presented By: YouthCo AIDS Society

Wednesday, February 10, 2010
5pm-7pm
John Howard Society
Presented By: Jim Mandelin

Wednesday, February 17, 2010
5pm-7pm
Child & Family Services
Presented By: Cameray

Wednesday, February 24, 2010
5pm-7pm
Pivot Legal Resources

February 2010: ILFFY Workshops Overview

During the month of February, Aunt Leah’s Society will be having a number of guest speakers come to our ILFFY workshops and speak with our youth about Legal Resources available to them in the community. We are excited to welcome back Jim Mandelin from the John Howard Society and look forward to new presenters from Cameray Child and Family Services and Pivot Legal Resources.

For general information about the ILFFY workshops, please CLICK HERE.

January 19, 2010
VICTORIA — Children and youth have a right to make a complaint about government services they receive, and the complaint process should be easy with quick resolution, British Columbia’s Representative for Children and Youth and B.C.’s Ombudsperson say in a joint report released today.

In Hearing the Voices of Children and Youth, Representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond and Ombudsperson Kim Carter point out ways in which the Ministry of Children and Family Development can make its complaint process more accessible and responsive to the vulnerable young people it serves. They identify seven opportunities for the government to improve the process.

“Vulnerable young people have a right to have their voices heard and their views considered in decisions that affect them,” said Turpel-Lafond. “If they disagree with or fail to understand why they are being treated in a certain way, they need to know they have a right to complain and that their concerns will be heard.”

“One of the things we learned in this review was that children in care may not know how to raise concerns if they feel the Ministry of Children and Family Development is not addressing their needs or treating them fairly,” said Carter. “If we truly want to protect children and youth, it’s vital that the complaint process is well-known, readily accessible and provides timely responses.”

In a video posted on the web, a former youth in care, the Representative and the Ombudsperson discuss the complaint process, the roles of their offices and how a young person can make a complaint.

To view the full report, go to Hearing the Voices of Children and Youth: A Child-Centered Approach to Complaint Resolution.

Name: Alison Welty

Volunteer Position: Thrift Store Assistant

Volunteer Since: Christmas 2005

Alison Welty is one of many volunteers who donate their time to help support Aunt Leah’s Society. Alison is a volunteer with Aunt Leah’s Thrift Store and recently we sat down with her to ask her a few questions about herself and what motivates her to donate her time so generously.

Click here to find out more about Volunteer Opportunities with Aunt Leah's.

Where are you from?
Omaha, Nebraska USA

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am semi-retired and I have a friend here so I spend a couple of months in the summer here and also a few weeks at Christmas time.

What kind of work have you done in the past (volunteer or other)?
I have never volunteered before. This is my first volunteer job. In Omaha I was a teacher and taught children from grades 1-4. I still do some substitute work for those grades, as well as art, library and the “Head-start” program in pre-school.

How did you hear about Aunt Leah’s and what made you decide to come and volunteer with us?
I was a customer at the previous thrift store location on Hudson Street in Marpole and I was happy when the Thrift Store moved to Marine Drive because it’s even closer to where I was staying. I came to the store one day and there was a sign on the door that said it was closed but it should have been open that day. I talked to the Manager and he explained that there had been a flood and they were cleaning up before they could open again. I asked if he needed any help and I have been volunteering here ever since.

Do you have a personal connection to our mandate (helping youth and moms who are vulnerable)?
I connect personally with what Aunt Leah’s does because I have worked with children all my life. In Omaha, 70% of the school population (450 kids) were in the Free or Reduced Lunch Program. These children had no books at home and needed a lot of help. I would spend about $2000/year of my own money to help pay for their school supplies. When I retired, I had over 2500 children’s books in my personal collection. I donated these books along with all of my teachers supplies to a school in New Orleans that had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Can you tell us a bit about how you feel about the work we do at Aunt Leah’s?
I love it. It’s a wonderful example of people helping people. I tell everyone about Aunt Leah’s.

Do you have a funny story about something that happened while you were volunteering?
A lot of families come to the store and they bring their children. I love children so they always come to me. Sometimes I show them the toys and keep them occupied while their parents are shopping. A little boy gave me a big kiss one day. The store is always clean and neat. The people are nice. It’s a nice place to be.

How does volunteering benefit you?
I like helping people. I have always been that way. I grew up on a farm and when someone needed help, the whole community would pitch in. I also like the good deals in the store!

How do you think we benefit from your efforts?
The Thrift Store needs people. Volunteers like me help to keep the store tidy and we keep the stock moving. Things like keeping all of the clothing tidy takes a lot of time. We are especially busy when people drop off donations and we have a lot of unpacking, sorting and pricing to do. More hands make it better.

What is your favorite thing about Aunt Leah’s/the Thrift Store?
Doing! Just keeping busy. I like the whole thing. Window displays, meeting people, even doing the dishes! It’s not like going to work. It’s good to do something to benefit other people. It’s fun.

What do you think about the Retail Training Program?
It’s a great program, a great opportunity.

Volunteering with Aunt Leah’s

Are you interested in volunteering with Aunt Leah’s or finding out about more ways that you can help? Please CLICK HERE to find out about all the ways you can help support Aunt Leah’s Independent LifeSkills Society.

Click here for more information about the 8th Annual Lonely Hearts Club Band Benefit Concert.

Aunt Leah’s 8th Annual
Lonely Hearts Club Band Benefit Concert
March 27, 2010

Aunt Leah’s 8th Annual Lonely Hearts Club Band benefit concert is an evening of musical entertainment featuring some of Vancouver’s best local performers playing their favorite Beatles songs. This year’s exciting lineup of performers include MC Colleen Brow, Dan Mangan, Rich Hope and His Evil Doers, Sarah Wheeler, Darker the Sky and the Beauties.

For more information about the 8th Annual Lonely Hearts Club Band Benefit Concert,
CLICK HERE.

Aunt Leah’s Independent Lifeskills Society invites you to help make a difference in the lives of deserving youth in the Greater Vancouver area. Aunt Leah’s helps foster children and mothers in need on their journey to self-sufficiency. We provide supported housing, job training, and coaching on the essential skills that many of us take for granted. Aunt Leah’s prevents teens from becoming homeless and prevents young mothers from losing their children to foster care.

Our fundraising efforts contribute significantly to these programs and their ongoing success. This year we are hosting our 8th Lonely Hearts Club Band Benefit Concert. The event will be held on Saturday, March 27th 2010 at the Polish Community Centre. Approximately 300 people attend the event every year.

This is an exciting opportunity to raise funds to support Aunt Leah’s programs and to indulge in an evening of live music and each musician’s creative interpretation of a Beatles song. Funds raised from this event go toward our Residential and Lifeskills Programs which support vulnerable young mothers and their babies.

The Man In Black
A Johnny Cash Tribute Night

A tribute to Johnny Cash – A third-party fundraising event on behalf of Aunt Leah’s Society presented by Gale Stewart. Friends and family of the Stewart family will be performing their favorite Johnny Cash songs.

Set in the “rec room” atmosphere of The ANZA Club, this will be a relaxed, casual and fun event. Theme dressing is encouraged and there is a $100 prize to be awarded to the individual deemed “Best Dressed”.

Sunday, January 24th 2010

Doors: 7:00 pm

The ANZA Club (downstairs)
3 West 8th Avenue (at Ontario Street), Vancouver

Tickets: $20

(Available at the door)

ILFFY, or Independent Living for Families and Youth, is a series of ongoing workshops designed to help youth and families work towards successful independent living. The following ILFFY workshops are organized for January 2010:

January 2010: Sexual Health and Wellness Workshops

Wednesday, January 6, 2010
5pm-7pm
Sexual Self Esteem
Presented By: YouthCo AIDS Society

Wednesday, January 13, 2010
5pm-7pm
Trivia Game
Presented By: YouthCo AIDS Society

Wednesday, January 27, 2010
5pm-7pm
Options for Sexual Health

January 2010: ILFFY Workshops Overview

For the month of January, our ILFFY theme was Sexual Health and Wellness. We had a variety of presenters come to Aunt Leah’s and educate our youth about Safer Sex, Harm Reduction, and Sexually Transmitted Infections. A variety of materials including pamphlets, brochures, fact sheets, and business cards were made available to our youth from community resources that offer support and services with regards to Sexual Health. The highlight of the month was the Trivia Night hosted by YouthCo AIDS Society, which motivated our youth to demonstrate their knowledge on Sexual Health topics and allowed us to learn even more about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

For more information on Sexual Health and Wellness, please contact the following resources:

YouthCo AIDS Society
900 Helmcken Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1B3
Phone: 604-688-1441 or 1-877-YOUTHCO
Confidential Support Line: 778-838-3856
Email: information@youthco.org
Website: www.youthco.org

Options for Sexual Health
3550 East Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V5K 2A7
Phone: 604-731-4252 or 1-800-SEX-SENSE
Fax: 604-731-4698
Email: admin@optbc.org
Website: www.optionsforsexualhealth.org

Vancouver Coastal Health
11th Floor, 601 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4C2
Phone: 604-736-2033 or 1-866-884-0888
Website: teensexualhealth.vch.ca

Next month, we look forward to our theme of Legal Support and Resources. The February ILFFY schedule will be available soon…stay tuned!

For general information about the ILFFY workshops, please CLICK HERE.

Aunt Leah’s Donor: Karin King

If you have been involved with Aunt Leah’s over the last 12 years, then there is a good chance you have met Karin King. Karin was a board member for two years, our Human Resources Manager for about 8 years, and is currently our Fundraising Assistant and she helps us in a myriad of ways with events and donor relations. Karin supports Aunt Leah’s as a donor, a volunteer and is a champion for the organization, helping to spread awareness and bring new people into our community.

Karin supports Aunt Leah’s as a donor, a volunteer and by spreading awareness about our organization.

Karin recalls how she first came to know about Aunt Leah’s. Karin and her family regularly attended one of the Community Meals where Aunt Leah’s offered pre-employment training in restaurant service skills to youth at risk. As a board member, Karin found herself caught up in the passion of the other board members as they worked together on vital issues within the organization. “What drew me to Aunt Leah’s was the work they were doing with the youth. I just couldn’t imagine what it must be like for these foster youth who’ve had to move from home to home, being uprooted, and the teen moms. I also admired that everyone was really focused on the mandate.”

Karin is also a mother and her son Joel is now 26. “Most of my friends are parents and our children have benefited from growing up with a certain level of affluence, and I just feel that when we know there are poor people and kids on the street, how can you not want to help?”

Karin’s friends ask her why she hasn’t yet retired. “You know, I so believe in what Aunt Leah’s is doing and the people they are helping and it’s nice to be around that. Aunt Leah’s really does very unique work. I have a lot of admiration and respect for the work the Support Workers do. And everyone, really. I feel like I’m surrounded by very caring, professional people who all have different things to bring to the organization.”

Karin has been an amazing ambassador for Aunt Leah’s. She is such a delightful person who genuinely cares about people and enjoys socializing and meeting new people. And she loves fundraisers! “My biggest delight is going to one fundraiser and buying something at their event and then giving it to Aunt Leah’s. That way, I can support two organizations! I get a big charge out of that.” Karin giggles and admits it’s not just out of generosity that she goes to these events but also because she likes to promote Aunt Leah’s. “Everybody knows where I work. I take any chance I get to spread the word about Aunt Leah’s.”

Karin’s favorite event is the Lonely Hearts Club Band which is an annual benefit concert with local talent performing Beatles songs. “Who doesn’t like music?” she asks with a laugh. Karin invites her friends to take part in all kinds of fundraisers and campaigns at Aunt Leah’s but she especially enjoys bringing friends to this event. “I love to see my friends having fun and enjoying the music, but of course I want them to know the purpose behind it as well.”

About her own choice to support Aunt Leah’s financially, Karin says, “I get a lot of happiness from that. One of my greatest pleasures would be to be able to start my own foundation. How wonderful would that be?”

Karin has been such a great help to us in fundraising and her love of people and passion for helping youth and teen moms in need contribute to her ability to reach out to our supporters. “I think most people are giving. When I’m talking to people about an event, it sparks their creativity to think of the different ways they can help, whether it’s with donations or their time or expertise.”

One of Karin’s new projects is helping to promote the concept of “Third Party” Fundraisers – where individuals or groups host their own events and donate the proceeds to Aunt Leah’s. Karin has come up with a lot of creative ideas for different kinds of fundraisers people can do with their friends and family or co-workers. If you are interested in hosting an event, or supporting one of Aunt Leah’s events, give Karin a call. You’ll be glad you did!

Merry Christmas from Tracy Phare, past participant of the Thresholds Program.

Memories of Her First Christmas in Thresholds

Tracy Phare lived at Aunt Leah’s house and was a new mom in our Thresholds Program in 20042005. Tracy has been doing some work experience at Aunt Leah’s office in New Westminster. Tracy shared some of her story with me and we talked about her plans this Christmas with her son Trevor.

Tracy openly shared with me that before she was in the Thresholds Program, her life was on the streets. “I didn’t grow up in the streets. I came from a good family and didn’t get into drugs until I was in my 20’s and I got addicted and I let it take me to the streets but that wasn’t what I grew up with.”

Tracy was 35 when she became pregnant with Trevor. She was terrified about being a mom but excited at the same time. She always wanted to have kids. “I didn’t think I could have babies. I thought I was being punished.” Tracy wanted to keep Trevor but had no idea how to be a mom.

“In the beginning I was really, really messed up, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. But my doctors, Dr. Hunt, Dr. Wilson and Dr. Ron Abrahams were excellent, excellent doctors and Dr. Abrahams suggested that for me, being a first time parent, that I should try Aunt Leah’s Thresholds Program. So I called right away, and had an interview.”

“I didn’t really have a home before Aunt Leah’s. I was just kind of staying here and there. I knew that if I didn’t try the program, they wouldn’t have let me take my son with me out of the hospital because I didn’t have a home to go to.”

Tracy remembers moving into the house. “I got to pick my own room and I really loved having my own room. I had the little window seat. I loved the curtains and my pillows that had this frilly trim and my pictures on the walls, and I just loved everything about it. And I had never had my own bed before. I always shared a bed with my sister. This was the first time I had my own bed and Trevor had his own little bed too.”

There were two other moms in the program at the same time and they all lived in the house together. “It was hard sharing the house with two other moms and their babies but in some ways it was good too because we had each other for support. One of the moms, I won’t mention her name, but she was a neat freak and always had to have everything a certain way you know? But we became friends too and the other mom was very committed to her sobriety and to always going to meetings and that so it was great to go through that with her.”

Tracy talked about how the structure of the program helped her to manage the challenges she faced. “It was a lot to take on all at once and there were a lot of rules in the house. It was hard to get used to at first, all these rules, but they taught us routines and that really helped.”

“The staff weren’t judgmental. I was going through a lot of shame and judgment from coming from the streets but the staff were so supportive. They just helped us through it. With three moms in the house all coming from the street, there was a lot of, you know, it was hard, it was really hard, with all the shame and everything that we had from that. The staff always made sure we were doing something positive for ourselves too, teaching us self care. They would check in on us on the weekends and ask us what plans we had to do something nice for ourselves.”

Tracy remembers her first Christmas at the house. “We got hampers from Aunt Leah’s, we decorated the house and put up a tree, and we made Christmas dinner. All three of us moms helped to cook the dinner and it was our first every turkey dinner and it turned out great! We all had a guest over for dinner and it was such a success! And I remember Trevor – it was his first Christmas. I dressed him up in a little green velvet suit and it had a little tie.”

I asked Tracy what her plans are for this Christmas. “Well, we just moved into a new home so we’re going to decorate and get a tree. Last year we didn’t decorate much because we were in an apartment and it was too small but this year we’re going to decorate and we’ll spend time with family too. Having Trevor really united me with my family because for several years I didn’t see anyone but having my son reconnected me with everyone and ever since then, we see the family regularly. They just love Trevor so much. ”

At Aunt Leah’s, we’re proud to be a part of Tracy and Trevor’s Christmas tradition. “Every year I go to Aunt Leah’s Christmas Dinner and see the staff and the other moms and their kids and Trevor loves it. He loves to see the other boys again. I tell him stories see. I tell him how when he was born he lived at Aunt Leah’s House, and he knows that the other moms and boys were there too, and he asks me, ‘Who was Aunt Leah? What did she look like?’, but I tell him he was too young to remember.”

Tracy has been such a pleasure to work with. She has an infectious positive energy and always has a smile. Tracy and Trevor will be receiving a Christmas Hamper again this year, and with Tracy helping out around the office, she’ll get to take part in helping to prepare the Hampers for other moms and families too. If her Christmas cheer is anything like her everyday cheer, she’s going to help make the season brighter for all of us!

Written by Theresa Olson

Representative Awards Honour Those Making a Difference for Children and Youth

On November 4, 2009, Aunt Leah’s Independent Lifeskills Society was among four organizations recognized for their dedication to making a difference in the lives of B.C.’s vulnerable children and youth. Aunt Leah’s won the Service Provider Award of Excellence.

In announcing the 2009 Representative for Children and Youth Awards of Excellence, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond said the awards highlight the diversity of programs and individuals in B.C. committed to improving outcomes for young people. “The work and initiatives of the people we recognize with these awards is truly inspiring,” said Turpel-Lafond. “These are outstanding individuals and organizations who believe in possibility. They develop programs and pull together resources to help shape better futures and better lives for young people. They are innovative, they are spirited and it is a great honour to recognize and celebrate their achievements. The dedication exhibited by these award winners is highly valued and extremely important, particularly in tough economic times when stress increases and many families experience additional hardships,” said Turpel-Lafond.

The awards are sponsored by the Justice Institute of British Columbia, the Law Society of British Columbia, the Vancouver Foundation and the Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children. This is the second year of the Representative’s Awards of Excellence to recognize and encourage excellence in B.C.’s child and youth service system.

Karin King gives support any way she can.

Taking Pleasure in Giving

If you have been involved with Aunt Leah’s over the last 12 years, then there is a good chance you have met Karin King. Karin was a board member for two years, our Human Resources Manager for about 8 years, and is currently our Fundraising Assistant and she helps us in a myriad of ways with events and donor relations. Karin supports Aunt Leah’s as a donor, a volunteer and is a champion for the organization, helping to spread awareness and bring new people into our community.

Karin recalls how she first came to know about Aunt Leah’s. Karin and her family regularly attended one of the Community Meals where Aunt Leah’s offered pre-employment training in restaurant service skills to youth at risk. As a board member, Karin found herself caught up in the passion of the other board members as they worked together on vital issues within the organization. “What drew me to Aunt Leah’s was the work they were doing with the youth. I just couldn’t imagine what it must be like for these foster youth who’ve had to move from home to home, being uprooted, and the teen moms. I also admired that everyone was really focused on the mandate.”

Karin is also a mother and her son Joel is now 26. “Most of my friends are parents and our children have benefited from growing up with a certain level of affluence, and I just feel that when we know there are poor people and kids on the street, how can you not want to help?”

Karin’s friends ask her why she hasn’t yet retired. “You know, I so believe in what Aunt Leah’s is doing and the people they are helping and it’s nice to be around that. Aunt Leah’s really does very unique work. I have a lot of admiration and respect for the work the Support Workers do. And everyone, really. I feel like I’m surrounded by very caring, professional people who all have different things to bring to the organization.”

Karin has been an amazing ambassador for Aunt Leah’s. She is such a delightful person who genuinely cares about people and enjoys socializing and meeting new people. And she loves fundraisers! “My biggest delight is going to one fundraiser and buying something at their event and then giving it to Aunt Leah’s. That way, I can support two organizations! I get a big charge out of that.” Karin giggles and admits it’s not just out of generosity that she goes to these events but also because she likes to promote Aunt Leah’s. “Everybody knows where I work. I take any chance I get to spread the word about Aunt Leah’s.”

Karin’s favorite event is the Lonely Hearts Club Band which is an annual benefit concert with local talent performing Beatles songs. “Who doesn’t like music?” she asks with a laugh. Karin invites her friends to take part in all kinds of fundraisers and campaigns at Aunt Leah’s but she especially enjoys bringing friends to this event. “I love to see my friends having fun and enjoying the music, but of course I want them to know the purpose behind it as well.”

About her own choice to support Aunt Leah’s financially, Karin says, “I get a lot of happiness from that. One of my greatest pleasures would be to be able to start my own foundation. How wonderful would that be?”

Karin has been such a great help to us in fundraising and her love of people and passion for helping youth and teen moms in need contribute to her ability to reach out to our supporters. “I think most people are giving. When I’m talking to people about an event, it sparks their creativity to think of the different ways they can help, whether it’s with donations or their time or expertise.”

One of Karin’s new projects is helping to promote the concept of “Third Party” Fundraisers – where individuals or groups host their own events and donate the proceeds to Aunt Leah’s. Karin has come up with a lot of creative ideas for different kinds of fundraisers people can do with their friends and family or co-workers. If you are interested in hosting an event, or supporting one of Aunt Leah’s events, give Karin a call at 604-525-1204 extension 228. You’ll be glad you did!

Written by Theresa Olson, Director of Communications and Donor Relations

Gale Stewart, Executive Director

The Privilege of Giving

Christmas Message from Gale Stewart, Executive Director

As I begin to write this annual Christmas letter I am again reminded of the privilege I experience. Last year my husband Paul and I became grandparents to two beautiful granddaughters named Ella & Lucy. This coming year we will be introduced to two additional grandchildren. Life is good.

Watching the unfolding of another generation and the attention and care that these little ones have access to is not only amazing but humbling…. such a startling contrast to many of the children at Aunt Leah’s.

So this year I begin with a story…………………

The young mom was now an adult. Her name was Julie and she had lived at Aunt Leah’s House for over a year. During that time she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy whom she named Jackson. She turned 19 during the summer months and by fall found a place to live for herself and Jackson.

As Christmas approached, we heard that Julie lost her accommodation but quickly found a new place to live. She called to give us her address and phone number. In the week prior to Christmas an Aunt Leah’s staff contacted Julie to ask if she would like a Christmas Hamper and a small tree from the Aunt Leah’s Christmas Tree Lot. She eagerly accepted our offer. A few days later two support workers went together to deliver the tree and hamper. When they arrived they found Julie holding Jackson on a straight-backed wooden chair in the living room area. The small apartment was clean but absent of normal furnishings. No couch. No living room chairs. No kitchen table. No pictures on the walls. No small appliances. Only a bed and minimal dishes and linens. It was painfully clear that this mom, who welcomed the Christmas tree, had no resources to decorate it, provide a gift for her son or food for the holidays.

Julie talked about her struggle to become a tenant, handle her budget and provide care for Jackson. She spoke of feeling weak and alone. She felt she was just not ready to live on her own. The Support Worker asked if it would be okay to give her some decorations for the tree, a grocery voucher and some furnishings from the Aunt Leah’s Thrift Store. Thoughtfully Julie nodded in agreement and soon the Support Workers had secured enough funds to ensure that the little barren apartment looked like home, Christmas preparations could begin and Julie knew she could call for help whenever she needed it.

A gift to Aunt Leah’s Society will provide a Christmas stocking, an outing, a Christmas Dinner or a gift on Christmas morning. All of this is true but Julie and Jackson’s story illustrates how much more your gift can accomplish. The story broadens what I wish to express. When financial support is provided to an organization like Aunt Leah’s we can creatively use it in ways that not only provide a special holiday celebration but also assist into the many months and years ahead for a vulnerable teen.

Our Christmas Gift becomes a sacred act a privilege that each of us has to offer, an opportunity to satisfy a human longing.

As I mentioned at the beginning of my letter, Paul and I are delighted grandparents. Often I constrain my conversation with friends. I try not to be the overly repetitive grandparent boasting of the amazing attributes and talents of Ella and Lucy. But I am quite unrestrained in telling anyone about the struggles of the young people who I see each day at Aunt Leah’s. Young people who have braved some of the worst imaginable home life situations. Teenage girls who have become good parents but continue to struggle to find housing and support for their fragile family unit.

Gale's granddaughters, Ella and Lucy.

“To Love and Be Loved in Return”

There is a basic human longing – the need “to love and be loved in return”. I like to think of it as a tiny seed of energy implanted in each of us at birth. How we are treated, the “significant others” who enter our lives, the love we experience, the creative acts that are done on our behalf – all of these contribute to whether the seed flourishes, whether we become people who have the ability to love and receive love. When this need is met, when this skill is taught, we become self-assured, kind, creative and generous people. Many, like Julie, will move out on their own this Christmas. The furniture, the tree, the decorations and the food are all expressions of love. Together they complimented Julie’s expression of love to her son at Christmas. And with continued care and support Jackson will learn this amazing skill and return that love to his mom.

Please join me in making this Christmas a memorable one for the young people at Aunt Leah’s. I extend my best wishes to you and those you love this Holiday Season. In the spirit of Leah,

Gale Stewart Executive Director

P.S. Your donation will help another young mom and baby like Julie and Jackson have a special Holiday Celebration this year.

To view this newsletter as a PDF, click here: Aunt Leah’s Newsletter December 2009

Jim and Anne McCullum have been involved with Aunt Leah’s almost since our founding in 1988. They have been monthly donors since 2001. Anne finds this a very useful way to donate, “because once you get things organized the right way, it just happens and it seems to me you can give more money at the end of the year than if you were sitting down to write a cheque just one time.”

Jim and Anne McCullum have been involved with Aunt Leah’s almost since our founding in 1988.

“Aunt Leah’s is an organization that we admire and want to be part of.” says Jim. Anne adds, “When we first encountered Aunt Leah’s, everything about it seemed to be so thoughtfully and inclusively arranged. The core values are beautifully put and real. They’re not just words on paper. It’s been my experience that that’s how the staff behaves towards the young people and also towards the volunteers and people who come to the fundraisers.”

Jim and Anne have volunteered at our annual Golf Tournament, the Christmas Tree Lots, and Jim also helps in the office from time to time. Jim says, “After I retired, I decided that I needed to do something for somebody else.” Anne describes the Tree Lots, “The volunteers are thoughtfully cared about. Aunt Leah’s makes the Tree Lots warm and comfortable and there are snacks to eat and encouraging words for us. It’s really remarkable.”

This summer, Jim became a member of our Board of Directors. “I’m so committed to the organization I wanted to be able to support it I whatever way I could with whatever skills or resources that I had so that’s why I said yes.”

Anne feels it’s important for people to know that besides giving money, there are many ways to support organizations like Aunt Leah’s. During the Christmas season, people are hosting parties where donations are collected rather than gifts exchanged. Jim and Anne recently made a contribution to Aunt Leah’s in honour of friends that were getting married. Even their grandchildren have been given money and were asked to choose a charity to donate to. “Their godparents gave them the money and they were really excited about doing the research and it involved other member of the family as well.” Jim says, “I would encourage people to do that. It’s good to be able to support Aunt Leah’s. It’s a privilege to be able to do that and every little bit helps.” He adds with a chuckle, “And big bits help more!”

Anne and Jim told us that they have decided to include a legacy gift for us in their will. Jim explained, “We’ve had a will for many years and in the last year have updated our will. What we decided was to take a percentage of the value of our estate for our children, and then 20% of our estate will be divided between four charities. Aunt Leah’s is very important to us when we are planning our contributions.” But they are committed to other organizations as well. Jim says, “We would rather donate more money to a few than just a little to many.” Anne adds, “We talked to our children so that they understood what we had in mind. We’re not wealthy people so we’re not talking about a lot of money but this was a way that we could make a gift and hoped it would be useful.”

I asked Jim and Anne what this decision means to them. “I think what it does for us is to support us in our commitment to reach out beyond ourselves which we believe is very important,” said Jim. Anne answered, “It gives Aunt Leah’s some support and a reminder that their work and way of working is supported an appreciated.”

I asked them if they had any advice for people who are considering making a gift in their will. “Try it, you’ll like it!” Jim says with a laugh.

On June 9th we will host our 20th AGM at our New Westminster offices (200 – 668 Carnarvon Street, New Westminster, BC V3M 5Y6). We will begin at 6:30 pm with appetizers and beverages. Guest Speaker Dr. Ron Abrahams will be talking about his work with marginalized women through his program at BC Women’s Hospital. There will be two special awards presented to youth in our programs: The Rona Award presented to Natalie Ming from the Retail Training Program and The Jeremy Wright Award Presented to Johnny Rowbotham from the Support Link Program. We hope you’ll join us. For more information call Theresa at 604-525-1204 ext. 224.

Training Programs

The Retail Training Program started last year and it has come a long way in these many months. Sessions are full and partnerships are growing to enhance this program and provide great first job skills for the many youth involved. Our Independent Living for Families and Youth Workshops have been expanded and are now being offered weekly. Youth and new moms now have twice as many opportunities to receive education and training on a variety of essential life skills. The Restaurant Training Program will open this fall, providing a Community Meal in partnership with a lower mainland church.

Retail Training Program Graduates: Back Row - Michael Klym, Kayla Ranville, Misty Greyeyes, Kailee Matthies, Ayesha Elliott, Front Row - Angelina Oates (Training Program Coordinator), Braydon Waterhouse, Natalie Ming, Dinna McDonald, and Brook Calvert (Program Director).

Summer Plans

We’re enjoying a few more days of sun lately and plans are underway for our annual summer trips for the youth and moms in our programs. The foster teen boys and girls in the Support Link Program will be going to the Southern Gulf Islands to enjoy nature and the experience of camping. The moms from our Thresholds Program and the new teen moms at Aunt Leah’s House will be traveling with their babies to enjoy the local sights of Victoria.

Dr. Ron Abrahams

AGM Guest Speaker

Dr. Ron Abrahams provides pre and postnatal care to women in the Downtown Eastside through Sheway on East Hastings and an outpatient clinic at BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre. He also operates a private practice. Dr. Abrahams has been awarded the National Award for Excellence in Leadership from the Kaiser Foundation, which honours Canadians and organizations for their outstanding work in reducing the physical and mental harms associated with drug use and mental health problems. Dr. Abrahams has worked in partnership with Aunt Leah’s Society and many other organizations for the past 20 years ensuring new moms and their babies stay together through the provision of safe supportive supervised housing.

Aunt Leah’s House

The most exciting news as we begin this new fiscal year is the return of “Aunt Leah’s House”. In February we participated in a four month pilot project to provide care for two teen moms. The pilot was successful and beginning May 15th we entered into a contract with the Ministry for Children and Family for a four bed resource for aboriginal teen moms. This is very significant for the organization. Many of you will remember the government cuts that led to the closing of the house in 2003. We are very excited that this founding program has been re-established.

Golf Tournament

Aunt Leah’s 4th Annual Golf Tournament will be held once again at the Country Meadows Golf Course in Richmond BC on September 11, 2009. Some exciting new changes are being put into place to make the competition more fun. Thank you to the Golf Tournament Committee for your dedication to this great fundraiser: Owen Clark, Leona Giffin and Don Sturgess.

Gale interviews Kim at our 2008 Golf Tournament

Project GOAL

A few weeks ago, during one of our workshops, we encouraged the youth to think beyond their current needs, imagine the future and attempt to answer the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Together we made collages representing their long-term career goals and aspirations. Of the girls, future careers included youth worker, flight attendant, and dental hygienist. Of the boys, future careers included professional sports, plumber, and fire fighter. Statistics tell us that of today’s homeless population in greater Vancouver, 60% of these individuals were once in foster care. It’s exciting to realize that the kids at Aunt Leah’s can realize their dreams. They can be like many of us when we were their age. It’s easy to look at them and not see what makes them different. What they don’t have enough of is support, family and community. Aunt Leah’s provides this. Through your support, we are changing those frightening statistics, and the future for foster children.

YES Workshops: Making collages helps answer the question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Youth Week

Bowling at Rev’s for Youth Week this past May was a huge success with our kids and we had a turn-out of over 20 youth, moms and babies from all of our programs.

Payge and Kaide Williams go bowling for Youth Week.

Mother’s Day

Soroptimist International Metro Vancouver hosted a Mother’s Day Dinner for past and present moms in our programs. The moms really enjoyed themselves and appreciated the great food, gifts and games that were offered. The event was held at Marpole Place and the Soroptimist members pitched in to ensure the occasion was celebrated in style.

Nelson, Serena and Jeremy at a Mother’s Day Dinner.

Breaking Records

Aunt Leah’s Fundraisers continue to break annual sales records and fundraising targets. Our Christmas Tree Lots raised nearly $42,000 with 213 volunteers who worked a total of 843 hours. The Lonely Hearts Club Band music benefit, held January 31, 2009 at the Polish Community Centre, raised over $27,000. We enjoyed wonderful performances by some great local bands. Together these two events raised over $77,000 for youth and families in our programs.

New Mailing Address

Our fundraising and administrative staff will be joining the programming staff at our New Westminster location. Our Thrift Store and Training Centre will remain at 675 SE Marine Drive in Vancouver. As of June 4th, our new mailing address will be:

200 – 668 Carnarvon Street, New Westminster, BC V3M 5Y6
Phone: 604-525-1204 Fax: 604-525-1295
Email: auntleahs@auntleahs.org
Web: www.auntleahs.org

Thank You!

Due to the recession, we know this has been a difficult financial year for many of our supporters and we are very grateful for your continued support. Your commitment to the foster children we serve is appreciated and we cannot do this work without you.

To view this newsletter as a PDF, click here: Aunt Leah’s Newsletter June 2009