Provide food and compassion to Downtown Vancouver's homeless.Jou-Wei Chou

UBC Agapé Street Missions is a non-denominational, non-profit, outreach-oriented student club of the University of British Columbia. We function as a low-barrier, informal service where we use food distribution as a positive contact point to start the communication between student volunteers and Downtown Vancouver West-End's underprivileged and homeless population. Despite their demanding course studies, student volunteers spend three hours a night, three nights a week, to connect with those street entrenched.

With $5,000, UBC Agapé Street Missions would be able to purchase a year's worth of food items (such as hot soup, pastries, vitamins, juice, and granola bars) to give to the homeless we see. This builds trust and a willingness to open up and talk with us, something that is often hard for them to do given their situation. We acknowledge their frustrations and personal victories, and encourage them when the opportunities arise to promote mental and social wellness.