Downtown
Last year when the Courier wrote about the empty grocery shelves at AIDS Vancouver, the community response was instant and overwhelming.
This year, AIDS Vancouver is once again asking for donations of wholesome food, new or gently-used toys and personal hygiene products for its World AIDS Day open house and holiday grocery donation drive Dec. 1. The event is in support of the more than 800 clients of AIDS Vancouver and their families.
Rocker Bif Naked will be in attendance at the open house to take “selfies” with anyone who makes a donation. The singer will also be donating all proceeds from the sale of her song “Intellectual” to support AIDS Vancouver programs, including its “grocery store.” Naked will be joined by Ryan Steele at the open house. The bartender was a recent contestant on the TV series The Amazing Race Canada.
The store allows registered clients of AIDS Vancouver to drop by on scheduled days to “shop” for groceries. Grocery basket in hand, clients can peruse the shelves and choose a limited number of items to take home at no cost. Those who bring their own bag are also rewarded with a treat such as a granola or energy bar. Everything that’s collected at the open house will be distributed Dec. 16, during AIDS Vancouver’s annual holiday grocery event, where clients and their families can stop by, have a snack, pick up some groceries and holiday treats and socialize.
Donations are accepted year-round at AIDS Vancouver, but this holiday food drive runs from Dec. 1 to 10. Much-needed items include cash, canned ham, eggs, cheese, milk, coffee, juice, cereal, shampoo, toothpaste, pasta/sauce, peanut butter and new and gently-used toys. As well, WestJet has provided two travel vouchers for anywhere the airline flies as a draw prize for anyone who drops by Dec. 1. AIDS Vancouver is located at 1107 Seymour St. For more information, visit aidsvancouver.org.
West Side
The 10th annual Homes for the Holidays event takes place Nov. 29 and 30 in support of Kids Help Phone, Canada’s only toll-free, 24-hour, bilingual and anonymous professional phone and web counselling, referral and information service for children and youth.
So if you love kids, the holiday season, home décor and design, this is the event for you. Homes for the Holidays is a seasonal fundraising event, which provides ticket holders a unique opportunity to enjoy a self-guided tour of six beautiful West Side homes professionally decorated by local interior designers teamed up with home decor retailers. As an added bonus this year, Casa Mia, the iconic and historic 1932 Southwest Marine Drive mansion, is one of the featured homes. Over the years, the art deco mansion has hosted performances by the likes of jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie and Count Basie. For more information and tickets, visit homesfortheholidays.ca.
Grandview Woodland
The Santa Paws is Coming to Town event takes place Dec. 6 and 7 at Tisol Pet Supply and Nutrition store on Grandview Highway.
Love on a Leash: Trusted Dog Care Services is hosting the canine-friendly fundraiser, which invites animal lovers to share the spirit of Christmas with their pets as they visit Santa and enjoy dog-friendly treats. Ellen Ho, of Hong Pet Photography, has donated her time to take professional portraits of beloved pets amid a winter wonderland backdrop complete with festive holiday décor and a pooch-friendly Santa sitting on a red and gold throne.
Both days will feature holiday baked goods courtesy of Siegel’s Bagels along with hot mulled cider for the humans and lots of doggy treats and socialization for the pooches while raising funds and awareness for Paws for Hope Animal Foundation, which helps create brighter futures for abandoned, abused and homeless animals. Photos with Santa are $20 and the first 75 dogs will receive a gift bag, including the latest copy of Modern Dog magazine, treats and special goodies from RC Pet Products and Tisol. Each day 25 of those bags will also include a $25 gift card redeemable at Season’s in the Park or the Teahouse in Stanley Park, courtesy of the Sequoia Restaurant Group.
