Charities collect donations
for less fortunate families

WITH ABOUT a month to go before Christmas, applica-
tions for food vouchers and hampers are already pouring
into the North Shore’s Christmas charities.

“There has been quite a number
coming in,’’ said Ruth Stout, head
of the West Vancouver Santa
Claus Fund for the past 18 years.
“Et's still early, but [ think that it's
going to be the same (demand) as
it was last year.”*

At the North Vancouver
Christmas Bureau, chairman Erica
O'Dwyer is hoping for the best,
but preparing for the worst, hop-
ing the demand will not increase.

Individuals or families receiving
donated food — usually a single
mother or out-of-work parents
with a number of children — last
year numbered over 1.000.

Leading a drive to meet this
need, the North Shore News —
together with a host of local
businesses — is organizing a drive
of non-perishable food items and
money to assist these two local
Christmas charities in their work.

Located across the North Shore,
the businesses sporting News ban-
ners and posters are this year’s col-
lection depots for the food drive.

“It’s a wonderful way for
(North Shore residents) to share
the real meaning of Christmas in a

oN

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concrete way,’ said News
publisher Peter Speck. ‘It’s about
the spirit “of Christmas. (It’s)
allowing us to open up our hearts
and give.”'

Applications for food hampers
or vouchers are distributed to the
Ministry of Social Services and
Housing, the Salvation Army and
other similar groups.

Hampers will include a host of
food items, but both Stout and
O'Dwyer want donors to know
that they cannot accept perishable
goods. Dry or canned items are
best, and money donated will help
with the purchase of food vouch-
ers.

“Although it's nice when people
bake things for us — cookies and
such — because of the health code
we just can’t give them out,’’ cau-
tioned O’ Dwyer.

Hampers will be distributed by
an army of volunteers just before
Christmas, and any added volun-
teers would be greatly appreciated
by the two groups.

‘‘They’re important,’ Stout said
of the hampers. ‘‘It gets (families)
over a time of anxiety. They’re not
down-and-out, but they need a

35 - Sunday, November 29, 1987 - North Shore News

NEWS photo Terry Peters

BANNERS ARE going up at local businesses this weekend to herald the start of this year’s North Shore
News-sponsored food drive for the West Vancouver Santa Claus Fund and the North Vancouver Christmas
Bureau. At this time last year, North Shore News employee Steve Rainey (left), Phil Ridgewell and Salvation
Army Capt, Thomas Oldfield put up one of the biggest food depot banners.

couver, V7V 3N3; or the NVCB at
P.O. Box 86081, North Van-
couver, V7L 4J5.

shopkeepers or mailed directly to
the organizations —- the WVSCF
at P.O. Box 91114, West Van-

helping hand.”’
Cheques or food gift certificates
may be given to participating

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