Lotus Light Charity Society Provides Warmth to Vancouver's Homeless

Arrival of freezing overnight temperatures in Metro Vancouver has alerted Lotus Light Charity Society Vancouver to act by providing needy donations to homeless organizations. Extreme weather shelters across Metro Vancouver are now open and homeless outreach organizations are encouraging the homeless to come inside.

“The City of Vancouver’s most vulnerable people, the homeless and needy, urgently need our help to survive this cold weather,” said Master Lian Tzi, President of Lotus Light Charity Society (Vancouver). “We remain hopeful this cold weather strategy of directly providing emergency supplies and sleeping bags to the street homeless will save lives, especially for individuals reluctant or unwilling to seek shelter.”

The Lotus Light Charity Society (Vancouver) arranged for the immediate distribution of hundreds of new sleeping bags, shampoo, conditioners and soaps to Covenant House, Direction Youth Services and Union Gospel Mission.

Street outreach workers of Covenant House and Direction Youth Services are out on streets at nights to distribute new sleeping bags and offer help to youths mostly age 16 to 24 who refuse to enter into shelters.

“Thanks to Lotus Light Charity Society Vancouver we will be able to offer the gifts of warmth and comfort to many homeless and at risk youth this winter season,” said Amy Cotton, Development Associate of Covenant House. “Lotus Light Charity donations give the outreach a chance offer youth a warm safety item, engage in conversation on other issues, and build rapport with service resistant to youth,” said John Kehler of Team Lead Day Program of Direction Youth Services Family Services of Greater Vancouver.

This winter season, Lotus Light Charity Society (Vancouver) will distributes a total of 1,400 winter care packages, 250 sleeping bags, and additional toiletries and linens to the homeless directly on the streets through its volunteer teams and at various local shelter visits at a later date.