Here’s a nice story in the Vancouver Sun about how one Port Coquitlam family helps in the community at Christmas.
Three-quarters of Canadian parents believe charitable giving is “an essential holiday season experience” for their children, according to a 2017 survey by Imagine Canada. Port Coquitlam’s Lisa and David Klym are certainly captured in that statistic.
“I always get emotional when I talk about their generosity,” Lisa Klym said about her three young children. “There are other kids who you read about who do this, as well. It is just one way for us to show the love of Jesus and to give back to our community, and also teach our kids social responsibility.”
For his last five birthdays, nine-year-old Riker has foregone gifts and instead asked his friends for donations to Union Gospel Mission, which offers meals, shelter, addiction recovery and other supportive programs to people in the Downtown Eastside.
“I decided to do it because there are lots of people in Vancouver who are living on the streets,” said Riker. “I wanted to give them a chance.”
Little sister Charis has followed her big brother’s lead, and at her birthday party last week collected $80 that she has given to the mission. “It’s for all the poor people, to give them presents and stuff they need, and more shelter and a home,” said the seven-year-old.
Read the whole story at…
Giving at Christmas means more than exchanging gifts
More than one third of the $14 billion that Canadians will donate to charities and non-profits this year will be collected within just a six-week period, from late November to the end of December – and ” compassion for those in need ” is the number-one reason we give during the holiday season, according to Imagine Canada, an umbrella organization for the charitable sector.
Union Gospel Mission | Overcoming Poverty, Homelessness & Addiction
Demonstrating the love of Christ, Union Gospel Mission is determined to transform communities by overcoming poverty, homelessness, and addiction.
