The "Team with a Heart" initiative is a collaboration with the First United Church Mission at Hastings & Gore, an organization that serves meals every day to the impoverished residents of the Downtown Eastside, the poorest neighbourhood in Canada. We provide a service to fulfill our mandate as a caring organization, by donating food and clothing with the very generous support of members and friends of the GOA Vancouver. The GOA thanks all the volunteers and the sponsors who have worked with a strong focus for this cause.

The lunch program prepared and served by volunteers, both from within our community and their friends, is undertaken up to four times a year, on a Sunday. The event focuses on the team effort in a busy kitchen while the bulk of volunteers welcome and seat with table service, serving close to 200 homeless men and women. The end of year lunch is animated with carol singing and usually brings out the musical talents of the homeless guests. The interaction with these less fortunate gives one an insight into some of the shortcomings of our society, while providing a short respite from the cruel street for a couple of hours. This is a great community event and we encourage our youth to get more involved in it.

The menu items vary and have included samosas, soup, chilli, sandwiches, chicken, meat sauce-pasta, garlic bread, cookies, desert and beverages. People from the various community groups (eg: Surrey, Richmond, Ladner, Vancouver, etc.) take turns hosting the meal production at their homes.

They also hold drives to collect socks, toques, shampoos, soap, towels and other sundry items which they hand out after the lunch. All contributions to this program are welcomed and appreciated.

Please come out and make a difference or enquire about sponsoring an event. We need your help..... Rides can always be arranged.

The "Team with a Heart" hosted our first lunch for 2009 on Sunday, 26 April at the First United Church. The event was sponsored by a couple (who prefer to remain unnamed) celebrating their silver (25th) wedding anniversary - with their family and friends attending to help serve lunch to the homeless.

Plans for 2010
We hope to have four events in 2010. However, there is a cost associated and sponsors are needed for this worthy cause - $500 per event, serving lunch and socks or other required items for over 200 people. This would be a wonderful way to commemorate an anniversary, milestone or other notable occasion. Monies can be sent directly to the GOA Vancouver, with a note of explanation.