AIDS Vancouver

On December 15th 2009, the AIDS Vancouver Grocery Program hosted its annual Holiday Grocery, providing food to hundreds of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in the lower mainland.

Once again it was a huge success with 724 clients and their families being supplied with healthy and fulfilling groceries to enjoy over the holiday season. For many, AIDS Vancouver groceries are the only form of festive food they had during that time.

As in every year, clients began to line up early to make the most of the festive grocery. Those who were waiting for the grocery to open were greeted with warm coffee and muffins thanks to the generous donation from the Davie/Seymour St Starbucks. Clients were also entertained through out the morning with an acoustic set from our talented Reception Coordinator, Heidi Morgan.

Through out the day clients were able to wander through our decorated space at our Seymour St office and were helped by a number of volunteers to collect their food. All day the vibe was one of good cheer and warmth and all who attended, be it volunteers or clients, were in high spirits.

The local corporate community was a great support in making Holiday Grocery 2009 a huge success and we would like to thank the overwhelming generosity of Cobs Bread, Whole Foods, HY Louie, Westender, and Van Whole Produce. We also can’t forget our generous donors for all their valued contributions to the Holiday Grocery and our valuable volunteers who made the Holiday Grocery day run so smoothly.
Thanks to everybody’s support we truly brought hope and light to many this past holiday season.

World AIDS Day 2009 marked the first round of a three phased funding cut being orchestrated by the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority to recoup their $90 million deficit. AIDS Vancouver sustained a $263,000 funding cut from the Health Authority on December 1^st. The next two funding cuts are due to take affect April 1^st 2010 and then in the fall of the same year.

AIDS Vancouver won’t be moving to the new Woodwards building in 2010. “Unfortunately, due to our vulnerable funding position, we have decided it would be financially irresponsible to move to the Woodwards building” stated David Swan, Executive Director AIDS Vancouver. “It is disappointing that AIDS Vancouver is unable to take advantage of the great opportunity that the Woodwards development provides, but in these times of economic instability our number one priority is to preserve our programs and sustain our excellent level of service delivery to our clients”

In an effort to manage the impact of the first phase of funding cuts AIDS Vancouver has decided to move their administrative staff from our Helmcken Office to the Seymour site. The move will start at the beginning of 2010. We are very happy to share the Seymour office with one of our strongest partners, BCPWA.

AIDS Vancouver thanks all of our supporters and looks forward to coming out of these three phased funding cuts stronger than ever.

On December 15th, the AIDS Vancouver Grocery Program will host the Holiday Grocery, providing food to hundreds of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. We decorate a space at our Seymour St office where our clients can walk through and collect their food in an environment that is festive and warm.

Our goal is to provide 800 clients and their families with healthy and fulfilling groceries to enjoy over the holiday season. For many, AIDS Vancouver groceries are the only form of festive food they will have during this time.

The AIDS Vancouver weekly grocery supplies food to approximately 1000 HIV positive members of the Vancouver community. Many of the people who access our grocery on a regular basis live on less that $20,000 a year. 

With the continued rise in food costs, hunger can be one of the biggest factors in the long term health of people with HIV/AIDS.  Nutritionally rich foods are one of the best ways to help provide people living with HIV/AIDS a longer and healthier life.

This past year has been difficult for many and we have all felt the strain of the Global Economic Crisis. Unfortunately, as history has shown, a crisis like this affects a society’s most vulnerable the hardest. We at AIDS Vancouver are preparing ourselves for the reality that our Holiday Grocery needs to be better with regard to the quality and quantity of food we are providing at this critical time.

What your donation can provide

$20   =12 people will get fresh produce

$65   = 48 cans of ham

$125 = 50 kgs of produce

$150 = 45 blocks of cheese

$200 = provides milk for 190 people

Helping AIDS Vancouver provide hope and light to our community this season is easy!

You can donate online at www.aidsvancouver.org/holidaygrocery  

Your contribution will go a long way in providing the cheer and warmth a good meal brings for many who might go hungry this festive season.

L- R Capers Staff: Peter, Wade, Zachery, AIDS Vancouver Executive Director David Swan, Potluck Chef Johnny, Capers Staff: Karen,and Willo and Potluck Staff Kara all came out to Capers on Robson St to help load the giant pumpkin on to a truck bound for Potluck Cafe.

The Capers store on Robson donated a 250 pound pumpkin/squash, last Monday, to feed the underserved population of the Downtown East Side (DTES) this Halloween.

AIDS Vancouver in partnership with Potluck Cafe moved the pumpkin on Monday from the Robson St store to the Potluck Café premises in the DTES. AIDS Vancouver Executive Director, David Swan, Potluck Café’s Chef Johnny Perry and Capers management and staff were on hand to load the giant pumpkin into the truck.

Potluck’s Chef, Johnny will be preparing 250 servings of soup to be given out to residents in the DTES on Friday October 30. “No part of the pumpkin will be wasted, even the seeds will be roasted for snacks and salad additions. “ stated Johnny Perry. Two kinds of pumpkin soup and possibly pumpkin bread will be handed out in two locations this Friday, the Potluck Café premises in the DTES and HEAT Shelter (Homeless Emergency Action Team) at Main and Terminal.

The pumpkin will provide food for AIDS Vancouver clients, Portland Hotel residents and clients, and some First Nations Brethren at the HEAT Shelter.

“Capers and Whole Foods Market has made an important commitment through their Bags for Hunger program to provide food to those in need in Vancouver. This is yet another great example of this company’s support of community agencies who work towards food security for some of the most underserved populations in Vancouver.” said David Swan, Executive Director, AIDS Vancouver.