Have you thought of buying something for yourself as Christmas gift? I bought myself an iPhone 12Pro.
I stopped by the Mall to get a new case and screen protector for my new phone. The staff at the store asked me if I could provide a Google review. Happy with the service, I did it right on site – 5 * reviews with positive comments. And I saw the staff smiling from ear to ear even though with a face mask on. Call me crazy but I love to see other people, not only friends, but also strangers happy and succeeding!
When you are shopping at Lougheed Mall, you won’t miss noticing many beautiful Christmas trees.
These Christmas trees, about 15 of them, are set up and decorated by Rotarians and I’m proud as one of the Rotarians helping out this year.
Exactly 3 weeks ago, I spent a few hours in the afternoon at Lougheed Mall to set up Christmas trees and decorate them before I left for the Toastmasters meeting. Some Rotary club members stayed till 8 pm. Bill, the Rotarian is in his 80’s, transported many boxes of trees with another not much younger Rotarian in the early afternoon to the mall. We couldn’t finish all the decoration on Monday, and we went back to the mall the next morning to give the trees some final touches. Our eyes were gleaming with delight when all these trees were lighted up.
The Festival of Lights is the biggest fundraising annual event for Rotary Burnaby Deer Lake Club. There are fewer sponsors and volunteer support because of the pandemic this year. I have contacted many possible corporate sponsors about this meaningful event. After my last-ditch effort, Beedie Living, one of the well-known developers in the Greater Vancouver area agreed to sponsor a tree at the last minute. The funds collected are being used for the purchase and distribution of winter boots for 250 kids in need in elementary schools.
For folks wanting to get some holiday spirit, purchasing a fresh, Aunt Leah’s Tree is the perfect way. The best part is: you are supporting vulnerable foster youth and young moms at the same time, who are in desperate need due to the impacts brought on by the pandemic. It is estimated that 50 percent of B.C. foster youth have experienced even greater levels of housing and food insecurity.
For 30 years, Aunt Leah’s Place has been helping children in foster care and young mothers achieve a better future by providing guidance, supported housing, job training and coaching on essential life skills.
Aunt Leah’s Christmas Tree Lots have been raising money to fund programs for that purpose. 100% profit of the tree sale goes into the housing programs and other essential services Aunt Leah’s Place provides for vulnerable foster youth, mothers, and babies.
Aunt Leah’s Tree Lots are open for the season in Vancouver, Burnaby, and Coquitlam, and for those of you who have been before, things will look a little different this year as Tree Lots follow BC Health protocols including social distancing, mandatory masks, and sanitization to keep customers, volunteers, and staff safe.
Other than regular size Christmas trees, there is a selection of apartment-sized potted trees, Christmas wreaths, and holiday planters to choose from.
If you already have a Christmas tree, please consider being a volunteer to keep the overhead low on the tree lots. Your volunteer support is as valuable as your financial support.
After all, this is a Season of Giving.
#RotaryBurnabyDeerLake #FestivalofLights #ASeasonOfGiving #AuntLeahTree