THE WEST Vancouver Santa Claus Fund is in full swing, operating out of the basement of West
Vancouver Fire Hall #1. Here, (clockwise from top) Maureen Eastwood, !rene Caverly, Ruth Stout

NEWS photo Mike Wakofield

and Joyce Hurrell show off some of the new toys donated to the Christmas Bureau fund.

CHRISTMAS BULLETIN BOARD

Celebrate season by buying tree for good cause

SCOUTS' TREE SALE... The
Capilano District Boy Scouts are
raising funds for their year-round

. activities with a Christmas tree
sale at the Woalco Garden Shop
in Capilano Mall in North Van-
couver. The sale runs from Dee. 4
to Dec. 21.

PEPPI’S ANNUAL FESTIVAL
OF LIGHTS... Choirs from all
over the Lower Mainland will be
performing throughout the

Christmas season at Peppi's Res-
taurant on Dundarave Beach in
Wes’ Vancouver, All perfor-
mances, scheduled to beyin at 7:15
p.m., are free to the public. On
Monday, Dee. 6, the Coquitlam
Choral group will entertain with
popular holiday carols; the Argyle
Senior Concert Choir will perform
on Friday, Dee. 10; and the
Dogwood Chorus is scheduled for
Sunday, Dec. 12.

oes

WALK TO BETHLEHEM... West

Vancouver Baptist Church invites
you and your family to take an
authentic Walk to Bethlehem, a
live multi-scene re-creation of the
very first Christmas. The 30-
minute tours run: Friday, Dec. 10,
from 7 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Dec.

from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9
p.m.; and on Sunday, Dec. 12,
from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
The free performance includes 50
fully costumed actors, elaborate
sound and = scenery, and _ live
animals. West Vancouver Baptist
Church is located at 450 Mathers

‘fete
AS

BORN IN St. Stephen’s Church in 1932, the height of the
Depression, the West Vancouver Santa Claus Fund is one
of the oldest Christmas Bureaus in British Columbia.

The volunteer-driven fund col-
lects items donated at West Van-
couver Fire Stations and assembles
hampers for delivery to the needy
during the holiday season.

Needy in West Vancouver?

“Contrary to the popular ste-

eotype of weaith and affluence,:

many individuals and families in
our community do need help,’’
says the fund’s executive officer
Ruth Stout. ‘‘Sickness, family
breakups, unemployment, © single
parents and seniors all contribute

By A.P. McCredie
News Reporter

Stout is the third caseworker to
coordinate the fund since its in-
ception.

Agnes Davies started it back in
1932, then handed the reins over
to Sibbie Small. Stout took over
from Small in 1967. :

The contribution. the West
Vancouver Fire Department makes

&& Many individuals and families in our
community do need help. 99

—Ruth Stout, West Vancouver Santa Claus Fund

to situations where some help
becomes necessary to make
Christmas 4 little happier.’’

Funded solely through private
donations — and free space pro-
vided at Firehall #1 for storage
and coordination — the Fund
collects new toys, non-perishable
foods and cash donations to help
make Christmas a little brighter
for those experiencing hard times.

Donations of goods (food and
toys) can be made to any of the
West Vancouver Fire Hails. Cash
donations (receipts are issued) can
be made at the Royal Bank of
Canada branch at 17th & Marine
in West Vancouver, or mailed to
West Vancouver Santa Claus
Fund, P.O. Box 91114, V7V 3N3.

Ave., West Vancouver. For more-

information call 922-0911,

NORTH VANCOUVER CITY
LIBRARY... On Saturday, Dec.
14, the library (121 West 14th St.,
North Vancouver) will be hosting
its annual open house. Mrs. Claus
will put in an appearance and
entertain children at 3 p.m.

LYNN VALLEY LIBRARY...

_ is not storage space alone.

Firefighters volunteer their time,
and their vehicles, to deliver all
the hampers by Dec. 21.

Application forms are
distributed through North Shore
social service agencies.

Last year, 271 hampers were
packed — 50 more than Christmas
1991 — and 310 toy hampers. All
leftover foud items are sent to ei-
ther the North Shore. Food Bank
or the North Shore Cooperative
Project Society.

Last year’s receipts totalled over
$28,000.

For more information about the
West Vancouver Santa Claus
Fund, call 922-6522 on weekdays
between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Enjoy mulled cider, coffee, cook-
ies and music from the Fidelio
Quintet during the Lynn Valley
Library Christmas open house on
Saturday, Dec. 11, from 2 0 4
p.m. The Lynn Valley Library is
located at 1280 East 27th St.,
North Vancouver,

If your community group has an
upcoming event, send a_ press
release to Christmas Bulletin
Board, c/o North Shore News,
3139 Lonsdale Ave., North Van-
couver, V7M 2H4,