HOMELESS LUNCH
As part of the GOA’s Social Governance policies to give back to the Community, the “Team with a Heart” initiative was spearheaded by Sandra Sequeira in 2005.
This initiative was set up in collaboration with the First United Church Mission, an organization that serves meals every day to the impoverished residents of the Downtown Eastside, the poorest neighbourhood in Canada. The event focused on a team effort of a busy kitchen while the bulk of volunteers welcomed & offered a seated lunch service to close to 200 homeless men & women. Sandra ran the program successfully for 5 years.
Since then, food and clothing have been provided to our less fortunate brethren by the very generous support of various members and friends of the GOA. The menu items vary and have included samosas, soup, chilli, sandwiches, meat sauce-pasta-garlic bread, cookies, and beverages. The organizing of the event has been generously taken on by various GOA members over the years.
These programs were launched at different venues and always supported by volunteers both in terms of hours and donations of food items and cash. We are proud to say that our volunteers ranged from the age of 7 to 87!!!! The GOA Youth have played a big part in this event over the years.
The cost of the ingredients to be able to feed 300 people with a warm meal, dessert and beverage is around $385.
The GOA still runs this program and is now spearheaded under the leadership of Heather Martin and Roger Martin. We welcome new volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact any of GOA Executive members and you will be added to the volunteer list.
