‘The Great Big Give’ raises thousands of dollars for A Loving Spoonful in Vancouver

The Great Big Give in support of A Loving Spoonful made a big in-person return this year.

More than $20,000 was raised at the holiday breakfast fundraiser Friday morning, with the money going to help feed those with HIV and AIDS across the Metro Vancouver region.

A Loving Spoonful only gets about 20 per cent government funding, so donations are key.

David McCann was among the many people who donated to the cause, contributing $1,000. He says he worked at a gay bar in Toronto when the AIDS epidemic hit.

“We had 108 people on the list whose names we remembered,” McCann recalled, talking about a reunion he tried to help organize years back. “We went up to the memorial and there were 98 names on the memorial. We never did have that reunion. I’ve lost a whole generation of friends.”

“I lost a whole generation of friends to AIDS.” – David McCann told us why he gives to @alovingspoonful after dropping off a $1000 donation.

— Crystal Laderas (@CrisLaderas) December 2, 2022

The funds come at a critical time, as food costs continue to rise, making the assembly and delivery of meals even more challenging.

A Loving Spoonful Executive Director Lisa Martella says we’re in a food security crisis.

“Of course we need funds and donations all year round, we need volunteers to pack meals,” she told CityNews, adding the need for support extends well beyond the annual breakfast fundraiser, held at the Fountainhead Pub.

“Currently, we’re producing about 3,000 meals a month, so we’re always looking for volunteers to come in and help pack those meals. So whether you’re an individual or part of a company and you want to come down and participate in meal packing, we need your help.”

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Friday’s breakfast marked the organization’s first in-person event since before the pandemic.

Half of A Loving Spoonful’s clients live with HIV and some other illness or medical condition. These clients get meals for free.

Along with supporting clients living with HIV and AIDS, the organization has expanded to helping patients of all kinds. More and more, A Loving Spoonful is delivering food to residents of single-room occupancy hotels (SROs).

In all, the group puts together 15,000 meals a month, with plans to open a big commercial kitchen in the Downtown Eastside to help serve even more people.

The organization has been providing support for more than 33 years in the Metro Vancouver region.

You can find more information on how to support A Loving Spoonful here.

CityNews 1130 is a proud sponsor of A Loving Spoonful