Help People - a pre-olympic challenge

Way back in my third year of University, one of my projects just prior to the Salt Lake City olympics was examining the social impacts of hosting world-scale "mega events" (olympics, expo's, etc)... one of the things I learned was almost without fail, every community had a track record of marginalizing and displacing its lower-income citizens and homeless. Vancouver itself only 24 years ago in anticipation of and during Expo '86 became a difficult place to live, large in part due to the dramatic increase in cost of living, rental rates, low vacancy, all things associated with being a community attracting millions of visitors in a short period of time, and needing to capitalize on the inflows of cash that result.

Without getting on too much of a soapbox, Vancouver is already a difficult place for many people to afford to live normal lives. Add the impending Olympics, the back-end of one of the hardest recessions of our time, and the many cuts to services, there are a lot of people in our community who need a helping hand.

My challenge to everyone who lives here and has the means... please help. Whether it be through donation to a local charity, taking extra non-perishables to your local food bank, putting in some volunteer time... every little bit counts and as we head into winter with all these other circumstances, there is no better time.

I have always been a supporter of the Union Gospel Mission, and if you're so inclined, here is a direct link to their donation webpage... a very worthy organization who has done good work with thousands of people on the downtown eastside for over half a century.

Here's a few other local charities I feel may help make a REAL and immediate difference in the lives of people in our community now:

St James Community Service Society

The Kettle Friendship Society

Covenant House Vancouver

There are of course so many others who are very worth while supporting, and for a variety of causes. If you know of others, or have one you are passionate about, please share!

PS - I am NOT anti-olympics by any means, just so I'm clear.