Aunt Leah’s Independent Lifeskills Society depends on your support to provide programs and services for vulnerable youth and families. Donors are recognized as members and have voting privileges at our Annual General Meeting.

Donate By Phone Or Mail:
We can process your donation immediately over the phone with Visa or MC. Please call 604-264-7238 ext 221. You can also use this donation form to send your donation in the mail or arrange for pre-authorized debit. You can also donate via the Canada Helps website.

Become A Monthly Donor:
By becoming a Monthly Donor, you are contributing to a regular flow of funds which helps us in planning our programs for youth and families. This provides us with a source of undesignated funds which can be used where they are needed most and promotes long-term sustainability for the organization. Our Monthly Donor process helps to reduce administrative costs which puts your donations to work faster and it’s convenient for you! All it takes is one signed form to make sure your generosity has the maximum impact.

The Kindness For Kids Initiative:
Join us at an upcoming Kindness For Kids Initiative fundraising event. The Kindness For Kids Initiative is a new way of looking at our financial planning for the future. Click here for information on an upcoming Kindness For Kids Initiative fundraising event. To everyone who has joined us in the Kindness For Kids Initiative, thank you for helping to ensure success for vulnerable youth and families into the future.

Special Gifts:
Honor a significant birthday, birth, anniversary or the memory of a loved one who has passed away by making a special donation.

Stocks:
Please consider using stocks to make your donation.

Planned Giving:
Please consider leaving a gift for Aunt Leah’s Society in your will.

Host a Third Party Fundraiser:
Third Party Fundraisers are fundraising events done by other groups or individuals to the benefit of a non-profit organization. For instance, if you are part of an organization or group of individuals who regularly exchange gifts, you could consider making a group donation to Aunt Leah’s. While you are enjoying your celebration, you could also be raising a significant amount of money for Aunt Leah’s. This is a meaningful contribution that can make a big difference to the people served by Aunt Leah’s. Other types of Third Party Fundraisers that have been hosted for the benefit of Aunt Leah’s include: birthdays, Christmas parties, staff parties, special dinners, car washes, and other special occasions where donations were asked to be brought in lieu of gifts, music benefits, dinners and silent auctions. If you would like a list of possible Third Party events, please contact us.

Events:
Check out our Events page and join us at one of our upcoming fundraisers, tours, music benefit concerts, golf tournaments, and more!

Buy A Christmas Tree:
Make sure to visit our Vancouver or Burnaby Christmas Tree Lots this holiday season.

Donate Goods/Services:
These donations help reduce our administrative costs. Furniture & other household goods are used to furnish suites for young people, fill needs for programming areas like classrooms, or sold for increased revenue.

Mailing List:
Learn more about the issues young families face today. You’ll receive our quarterly newsletter plus information on special projects and events. Pass it on to a friend or ask them to sign up on our mailing list too!

Order Online Computer Supplies
A percentage of income from computer supplies ordered for personal or professional use from the Office Essentials website will be directed to Aunt Leah's Society. Make sure to register as a new customer and specify that you would like to support Aunt Leah's with your purchases. Check out their website: www.officeessentials.com

For more information on How You Can Help, please call our Vancouver Office: 604-264-7238

Become An Overseer In The Support Link Program:

Aunt Leah's Society is currently looking for people who would be interested in being a part of its Support Link Program as a Support Link Landlord/Overseer.

The Support Link Program is designed to provide lifeskills to youth who are preparing for independent living. The Support Link Program offers basement suites to youth that are 15-18 years of age who are presently in the care of the Ministry for Children and Families/ Aboriginal Services, and who are preparing to make the transition to independent living. 
(Click here for more information on the Support Link Program.)

Aunt Leah's is currently looking for individuals who are interested in living in a house above a Support Link Suite and being the Support Link Landlord/Overseer. The benefits of being a Support Link Landlord include:

• An Opportunity to live in a house at a lower or subsidized rent
• Opportunity to meet the needs of a young person making the transition to adulthood and independent living
• Support Link Landlords are recognized twice a year
• Provide a realistic setting for a young person to learn what a landlord/tenant situation is all about

We are currently looking for people who would be interested in living in the Surrey area.

If you would like more information about being a Support Link Overseer/Landlord please contact Sarah Stewart, Program Director at
604-525-1204 ext 222.

Please feel free to forward this information on to individuals you know who might be interested.

Volunteering For
Aunt Leah's Society

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Aunt Leah's Independent Lifeskills Society. We have many volunteers who help with fundraising and awareness events. If you would like to volunteer, please contact us at 604-264-7238. Click here for a volunteer application form.

Aunt Leah's Tree Lots
We have been in business with our Lots for over 10 years and have excellent products and even better service from our hundreds of volunteers who help out at the lots throughout the month of December. Volunteer jobs are in customer service/sales, cashier, lot maintenance and set-up and clean-up. We have two Tree Lot Locations: St. Stephen's United Church at 54th Ave & Granville Street, Vancouver & All Saints Anglican Church at 7405 Royal Oak, Burnaby. Regular Open Hours For Both Locations: Mon-Fri: 1 pm-9 pm, Sat-Sun: 10 am-9 pm. Proceeds support youth in Aunt Leah's Training Programs such as the Restaurant Training Program, Barista Training, Cooking Club and ILFFY Workshops (Independent Living for Youth and Families). Our profit goal is $35,000.
For more info on volunteer opportunities, please call 604-264-7238 ext 222.

Aunt Leah's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Annual Music Benefit
December 2006 - Some of Vancouver's best local musicians perform their favorite Beatles songs and proceeds support vulnerable young moms and their babies through Aunt Leah's Thresholds Residential Program. Our profit goal is $12,000. 40 Volunteers are needed on the night of the event. This event has had increasing success and we believe it has the potential to be our major annual fundraising event, providing us with significant funds to help more youth and families each year. Attendance has been between 200-350 people. Volunteers are needed for postering, set-up, clean-up, green room supervision, silent auction supervision, door staff - will call, tickets, sales.
For more info on volunteer opportunities, please call 604-264-7238 ext 222.

Fundraising Mail-Outs
Aunt Leah's publishes a quarterly newsletter to increase awareness and encourage support for the vulnerable young people in our programs. We also send out donation request letters two times a year. These mail-outs are to approximately 2000 homes and volunteers are needed to help with folding, envelope stuffing, sealing and stamping.
For more info on volunteer opportunities, please call 604-264-7238.

Aunt Leah's Thrift Store
Located at 675 SE Marine Drive, Vancouver - Aunt Leah's new Thrift Store is seeking volunteers. Volunteers would work a four hour shift during the afternoon on weekdays. Currently we are open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm. Jobs include working with a staff member to sort and price items, dealing with the public and retail skills. The Thrift Store is located at 675 SE Marine Drive. All proceeds from the Thrift Store benefit the young people we work with. Thrift store volunteers receive 20% off purchases in the store.
For more info on volunteer opportunities, please call 604-264-7238.

Host a Third Party Fundraiser
Third Party Fundraisers are fundraising events done by other groups to the benefit of a non-profit organization. For instance, if an organization you belong to regularly exchanges Christmas gifts, you could consider instead making a group donation to a non-profit organization such as Aunt Leah’s. This is a meaningful contribution that can make a big difference to the people served by Aunt Leah’s. Last year, the Marpole Curling Club did something similar for their annual Christmas party. Rather than purchasing gifts for each other, they each contributed what they could to a group donation to
Aunt Leah’s. When combined, this added up to a significant amount of money. Consider Aunt Leah’s for a holiday fundraiser.
For more info on volunteer opportunities, please call 604-264-7238.

Employment:
Since we work with youth in care of the Ministry for Child and Family Development, we are only able to have trained staff members work directly with the young families in our programs, so unfortunately there are no volunteer opportunities in this area. If you are interested in employment with Aunt Leah's Society:
For more info on employment opportunities, please call 604-264-7238 ext 225.

Thanks again for your interest in Aunt Leah's!
We hope to hear from you soon.

Aunt Leah's Wishlist:

Aunt Leah’s welcomes your donations of new and used items to give to youth and families in our programs, for our offices and program spaces and for fundraising through our Thrift Store and at special events.

Youth and Families:

Being on a limited budget often means that only the essentials can be provided and sometimes even that is a stretch. These are the kinds of things needed by our youth and families:

• Furnishings for their first apartment (especially the basics like small couches, coffee tables, armchairs, beds, night tables, small dinette sets) lightweight and easy to move pieces.
• Household appliances & electronics (toasters, microwaves, wall clocks, clock radios, TV’s, DVD players, small stereos).
• New or “like new” sheets and towels.
• Toiletries (don’t forget the products for boys).
• New or “like new” strollers, cribs, playpens, car seats, high chairs.
• Gift certificates are always appreciated for things like shoes and clothing.

Offices & Program Spaces:

We have been working hard over the years to be able to provide quality furnishings and equipment for our work and program spaces. A few things are still needed:

• Computers: We are looking for new or gently used Windows XP or 2000 computers to replace some of our very old, slow ones for staff and program participants. Laptops are highly desired!
• An LCD projector we can connect to our laptop to project presentations onto a large screen for fundraising and educational purposes.
• Office chairs - new or “like new” that offer good back support at work-stations for staff and youth.

Thrift Store:

Items that can’t be used in our programs are sometimes still welcome. Odds and ends are being sold in Aunt Leah’s Thrift Store. Profits go right back into our programs! Check out our Thrift Store page for more info. 

Special Events:

We’re always looking for new items to use at fundraisers and events for youth and families. Prizes for games and at silent auctions are always in short supply. This could be anything from a gift basket to a new car! Gift Certificates are also useful.

Christmas Hampers:

Every year at Christmas Aunt Leah's provides Christmas hampers to the youth and women in our programs and to past participants who are still in need of a little help at Christmas. These hampers are made special with the inclusion of gifts for the youth, moms and babies. Gifts that are especially appreciated include: gift cards for food stores or restaurants, small electronic goods, new clothing and other small, special items.

Please call 604-264-7238 for more information and possible pick-up arrangements if you have something to donate.

Thank You!