A group that helps young aboriginal moms with housing in Burnaby is getting a financial boost from the federal government.

Aunt Leah’s Independent Lifeskills Society is receiving $666,500 through the Government of Canada’s homelessness partnering strategy.

Aunt Leah’s runs a transitional housing program that provides a safe place for young aboriginal moms who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. About eight to 10 moms go through the program each year.

The federal funding means the organization can buy the home they were renting.

“This purchase will ensure that vulnerable young mothers always have support and a home to return to,” said Gale Stewart, executive director of Aunt Leah’s.

“Our government is giving a hand-up to Canadians with housing needs and is helping those seeking to break free of the cycle of poverty and homelessness in Burnaby,” said senator Yonah Martin in a press release.

Aunt Leah’s has headquarters in New Westminster but runs the transitional housing program in Burnaby and has other projects all over the Lower Mainland. For more information, visit www.auntleahs.org.

© Copyright (c) Lower Mainland Publishing

May 2010: Foodsafe, Nutrition and Cooking Club

Wednesday, May 5, 2010
4pm-8pm
FoodSafe Course

Wednesday, May 12, 2010
4pm-8pm
FoodSafe Course

Wednesday, May 19, 2010
5pm-7pm
Nutrition Tour

Wednesday, May 26, 2010
5pm-7pm
Cooking Club

May 2010: ILFFY Workshops Overview

Our May ILFFY theme will be Nutrition. We start the month by offering the FoodSafe course, which will give participants the requirements for food safety training. Next, we will be meeting with a Nutritionist to do a “Nutrition on a Budget” tour at Save-On-Foods. Finally, we will be giving participants an opportunity to practice their food safety and nutritional habits at our Cooking Club.

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

Aunt Leah’s Twisted Fork Bistro Fundraiser

Aunt Leah’s Twisted Fork Fundraising Event

If you haven’t been to Twisted Fork Bistro yet to sample their amazing brunch menu, Saturday May 8th is the time to do it! $2 of every brunch sold will be donated to Aunt Leah’s.

The Sunday Suppers are the Twisted Forks’ own tradition where guests can enjoy a delicious meal complete with salad, home made bread, entree, dessert and beer or wine all for $25. On Sunday May 9th, $4 of every Sunday Supper sold will also be donated to help support Aunt Leah’s programs.

Sunday, May 9th Supper Menu
Kobe Beef Lasagna
Green Salad
Garlic Bread
Tiramisu
Glass of Wine/Beer

Just about everyone who works at Aunt Leah’s or who is on our board of directors has been to the Twisted Fork and will encourage you to try their amazing food. It’s also a warm, beautiful space with cozy booths and thoughtful artwork. Make sure to take in the upholstery and pillows worked on by Aunt Leah’s very own Brook Calvert and Theresa Olson during the Twisted Forks’ renovation!

Planning Your Own Aunt Leah’s Fundraiser

Planning your own Aunt Leah’s Fundraiser does more than benefit the our organization – it brings a community closer together. It can be a team-building activity for co-workers, an event for neighbours or a whole neighbourhood, a class or school project that teaches the spirit of giving to children and their classmates/friends, or a personal wish to do more for your community. There are unlimited reasons to hold your own fundraiser and help a charity like Aunt Leah’s.

Many members of the Aunt Leah’s Community have held fundraisers in our honour over the years. Just recently, Tony Walsh held a Curling Bonspeil and Gale Stewart hosted the very successful Johnny Cash Tribute Night. Later in June this summer, Megan Halprin will be taking pledges to shave her head to raise a goal of $10,000.

To find out more about how you can host your own Aunt Leah’s Fundraiser please visit our Aunt Leah’s Fundraisers page or call 604-525-1204 ext 228.

To see a list of all Upcoming 2010 Aunt Leah’s Events, please CLICK HERE.

April 2010: Personal Awareness

Wednesday, April 7, 2010
5pm-7pm
Project Goal
Presented By: Theresa

Wednesday, April 14, 2010
5pm-7pm
Enneagram Personality Types
Presented By: Erika

Wednesday, April 21, 2010
5pm-7pm
Bamboo Yoga

Wednesday, April 28, 2010
5pm-7pm
Bamboo Yoga

April 2010: ILFFY Workshops Overview

In April our ILFFY workshops will be focusing on Personal Awareness and are intended to develop self-confidence, self-regulation, initiative, and motivation.

On April 7th, Aunt Leah’s Director of Communications, Theresa Olson, will be leading a Project Goal workshop that will inspire our youth to gain insight into their future endeavors. On the 14th, ILFFY Coordinator, Erika Morgan, will be presenting the Enneagram’s Nine Personality Types, which allows individuals to identify with their personality and gain insight into their behaviors, fears, and desires. The last two sessions on April 21st and 28th will be lead by instructors from Bamboo Yoga, who will offer a variety of techniques in recognizing and managing stress and anxiety and maintaining a calm inner self.

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

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 March 2010:

March 2010: Environmental Awareness & Worldhost Training

Wednesday, March 3, 2010
No Workshop

Wednesday, March 10, 2010
5pm-7pm
Environmental Awareness
Presented By: Candice

Wednesday, March 17, 2010
5pm-7pm
Burn’s Bog Conservation Society

Wednesday, March 24, 2010
4pm-8pm
Worldhost Training- Part 1
Presented By: Angelina

Wednesday, March 31, 2010
4pm-8pm
Worldhost Training – Part 2
Presented By: Angelina

March 2010: ILFFY Workshops Overview

The first two ILFFYs in March will be dedicated to Environmental Awareness. Candice Lander will be providing the first workshop and the second will be presented by Burn’s Bog Conservation Society. Both will focus on the importance of Environmental Awareness and how we can all become better advocates for the Earth.

The last two ILFFYs in March will focus on Workplace Training. Angelina Oates will be instructing the WorldHost program, a provincially recognized course that will give our youth credentials in the Customer Service and Tourism industries.

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

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.