THE AGENCY IS FORTUNATE IN THIS RESPECT, WITH

ABOUT 130 PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME TO

PERFORM MOST TASKS THAT KEEP A LOVING

SPOONFUL SERVING 250 CLIENTS EVERY WEEK.ORGANIZING ALL THOSE VOLUNTEERS ISN'T AN EASY JOB.

Until 2002, Director of Volunteer Services Karen Opasalone made sure that A Loving Spoonful's volunteersknew where to go and what to do. In 2002, with thegoal to “support the agency mission by providingleadership in all areas of volunteer activity and man-agement,” the Volunteer Leadership Team was creat-ed. According to VLT's chairperson Julie Marandjian,the team exists to “act as volunteer-based volunteercoordinators, as an extension of Karen's job. We focuson volunteer coordination for fundraisers and specialevents, we support volunteer recruiting, training andorientation and retaining efforts. We work on stan-dardized resource materials”

Among the many activities volunteers donate theirtime to are meal delivery, administrative support, set-ting up and working at special events (such as theannual Dining Out For Life), and fulfilling the orga-nization's fundraising and communications needs,just to name a few.

In 2001, volunteers clocked 12,332 hours, rising to13,298 the following year. This year's current total is ahuge 18,674 hours. “Despite the increase by one thirdin donated hours and increased need for recruitment,

No One Living with AIDS Should Live with Hunger www.alovingspoonful.orgSummer 2004

Volunteer leaders get it doneby Olivia Heatley

continued on p. 2

Providing free, nutritious meals to its clients while keeping costs minimal isessential to A Loving Spoonful's success. With only the equivalent of fourfull-time employees, A Loving Spoonful cannot achieve its goals without alarge pool of volunteers.

Easter & the Food Fairy

Easter and a Food Fairy prepare for the 2004 Pride Parade. Morethan 40 past and present volunteers dressed up to celebrate a'Green Acres meets the local farmers market' theme to promotenutritious food. Holt Renfrew, Happy Planet and Capers all donat-ed time, décor and healthy goodies handed out to crowd

2 | the HeartBeat

training and supervision, I built up two weeks lessovertime than the previous year, primarily due to thefact VLT coordinated and led volunteers at about 70per cent of in-house and third party events in 2003-2004,”says Opas.

The Volunteer Leadership Team has set some aggres-sive goals for the next year. Marandjian is especiallylooking forward to launching the Volunteer AdvocacyProgram, which will create volunteer advocates foreach area of volunteering - administrative, programand special events.

“We're targeting an increase in volunteer satisfaction,in process improvements, in the accuracy of our con-tact information, and in our strategic recruiting,“ shesays. This fall, the team is launching an internal web-site with standardized forms and resources.Marandjian says the site “will allow us to save a lot oftime while planning the volunteer aspect of specialevents.” A 10 per cent growth in volunteer hours isalso included in the year's strategic plan.

Nicole Munro, one of the newest members on theteam, has quickly become involved as secretary andSpecial Events Advocate. She has always wanted tobe part of A Loving Spoonful and says the best thingabout being on the committee is “having an insideview of the way in which volunteer activities areorganized.”

“There's no limit to what kind of, or how many pro-jects you can get involved in,”she says.“It's basicallyall about applying your skill-set to help out in anyway that you can think of. We may all have differentbackgrounds and life stories, but we're all there forthe same common goal - to support the cause”.

continued from cover

Leadership How Precious is this?

15 Years of Love party organizers Easter Armas Mikulik,David Goudge, Martin Klovan and fabulous hostessSimone welcomed all who attended a fabulous night atthe Caprice, sponsored by Labatt, Holt Renfrew, M.A.C,Urban Fare, the Caprice, Cruiseline and XTRA! West, Nars,Cosmetics and many others.

Last newsletter, we reportedon one of our volunteers,Precious Hutchinson, and herefforts to secure birthdaycakes for our clients. Well,Dan & Trudy Pekarsky andKaren Bowden & Doris Rankstepped up to the plate.Together, their donations andpledges will light candles oncakes for the next year! AND -Precious has added the 1/2time position as our SpecialEvent Coordinator to her vol-unteer duties.

If you want to save time, postageand stationary - make your

donation online at www.alovingspoonful.org.

It’s easy!

SAVE TIME!

DMS-THE DOGWOOD MONARCHISTS SOCIETY

HAS BEEN PRODUCING FUNDRAISING EVENTS IN

VANCOUVER FOR THE PAST 33 YEARS. RECENT

EVENTS INCLUDE: TITS N' MITTS, LILITH FAIRY,LAF, AND THE WEEKLY DIANA ROSE MEMORIAL BBQ,SUNDAY NIGHTS AT THE ODYSSEY NIGHTCLUB.

This year, A Loving Spoonful is one of their chosencharities. Current Emperor DJ Jules and EmpressEstie Louder hope to raise more money than everbefore. The finale to the year comes in March, whereevery year a new Emperor and Empress are crownedat their annual Ball.

The Rhinestone Phoenix Charity Society is set to cel-ebrate its 25th year anniversary this September. Theyproduce many theme and club nights to support theirchosen charities. Recently, they produced the ever-popular and successful annual Family Feud, at theDufferin, where our very own A Loving Spoonfulteam went all the way to the finals. Like DMS, theytoo have a yearly event where they elect Mr. and Mr.GAY Vancouver. This years title-holders are VinceRexxx, Mr. GAY, and Ruby Stone, MS. GAYVancouver.

The Knights of Malta Dogwood Chapter has rootsdating back to 1973. The Dogwood Chapter wasformed in 1980. Their motto is “To raise funds forcharity while having fun doing it.” They have bi-

weekly draws and shows, annual events likeCampout, and cap it off every year with a four-weekevent that chooses Mr. Denim/Leather, Mr. Jock, Mr.Cowboy and the ultimate title - Mr. Stud.

For a good time and a good cause,call… by Gary Mitchell

Summer 2004 | 3

There are many organizations out there raising money for local charities.Perhaps none are so unique as the following three, which by their ownadmission wish to raise money while having fun. What they have in commonis that they all bring people together at social events, and they have all beenvery generous to A Loving Spoonful.

Shake it for ALoving Spoonful

Pictured here areDickey Doo, spin-ning the tunes, andCotton (aka,Michael Venus), in-house promotionsat Celebrities.

Every Saturdaynight, the newlyrenovatedCelebrities night-club donates $1from each covercharge to A LovingSpoonful. So get outthere and shake itfor A LovingSpoonful.

Photo: GaryMitchell

The Annual General Meeting was held at our offices July 26, 2004. We are pleased and proud to report a very suc-cessful year. For complete annual reports, please visit our website at www.alovingspoonful.org. Huge thanks tooutgoing board members Daniel Peiser and Kent Martin and welcome to Julie Marandjian, Gary Mitchell and DawnSchooler.

A Loving Spoonful AGM

4 | the HeartBeat

Thanksgiving, thanks, gifts and food -they all go together and they all meet atA Loving Spoonful. Pie in the Sky is

back! Starting September 15, you can orderyour delectable Thanksgiving pie for $25 -on-line, by phone or fax or at the YaletownFarmer's Market October 2. Provide yourfamily with a scrumptious dessert, whiledonating enough money for three wholeThanksgiving dinners to men, women andchildren living with HIV/AIDS. It doesn't geteasier than that.

You can also visit A Loving Spoonful's website to bid on pies accompanied by auto-graphed merchandise from celebritiesincluding Jann Arden, Norah Jones, JesseCook, Diana Krall, and Joni Mitchell andcelebrity-chef baked pies by John Bishop,Rob Feeney, Karen Barnaby and others.

Orders and bidding close 5 p.m. October 6and there will be several sites around townto pick up your freshly-baked pies on FridayOctober 8. Last year was a sell-out, so don'twait!

The connection between prairie gourmet dining and feeding those whoneed the help is being made once again in the Fifth Anniversary PrairieFairies Fowl Supper.

Put on by the Fillmore Family Foundation, last year's event raised morethan $14,000 for A Loving Spoonful and the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation.More than $26,000 has been raised since the event was founded in 2000.

Come on out for an evening of prairie-style home cooking and dancing,served up by none other than hosts Linda and Doreen Fillmore. TheBoathouse Restaurants are sure to serve up a turkey dinner not to be for-gotten. You might even win the award for the most creative Jellied saladcreation.

This year's dinner takes place Saturday, Nov. 13 at the RoundhouseCommunity Centre. Go to www.fillmorefamily.ca for information. Ticketsgo on sale Sept. 10 at Little Sisters or by calling 604-789-8725. They are$30 each.

The Fillmore Family Foundation is a registered non-profit society, provid-ing funding to non-profit agencies that deliver programs and services inthe areas of nutrition, housing and health.

Prairie Fairies raisefunds with somedown-home good timeby Shawn Hall

Don't dessert us! by Sue Moen

Last year's Prairie Faries put on a hoppinggood time at last year's dinner!

Peter Hanson and The Lords of the Houseof Just Cuz started holding "The Party" atthe Dufferin in May and have raised awhopping $1426 for A Loving Spoonful sofar. Oliv and Myria will host a specialLabour Day party on Monday September6th starting at 2 pm to benefit A LovingSpoonful and Youthco.

The Party

FOR MANY CLIENTS, THE HAMPERS ARE THE ONLY

CHRISTMAS GIFT THEY GET, SO THEY BRING THE GIFT OF

HOPE AND JOY, SAYS PROGRAM COORDINATOR LUKAS

MAITLAND.

The illness, poverty, and depression many clients feelduring the holidays struck the staff of A LovingSpoonful in one case a few years ago, promptingthem to launch the hamper campaign.

"A few years ago, Christmas Day fell on a Tuesday. ALoving Spoonful delivers every Tuesday of the year, sothat meant we were delivering hampers onChristmas Day,”Maitland says.“At that time we wereserving a single mom in New Westminster who hadseven children including a newborn.Thanks to all theindividual donations from companies and individualswe were able to be Santa to all of her children.

We also stocked her cupboards for the holiday sea-son. Our client was so grateful she could barely stopherself from crying. Although the family isn't on ser-vice any more, I remember them every Christmas".Maitland adds men's items such as shaving kits,socks, and gloves are particularly needed, as 70 percent of A Loving Spoonful's clients are men. Theyalso are looking for money, grocery gift cards, dispos-able cameras with developing gift certificates, condi-ments, spices, teas, ethnic foods, and meals in a can.

He adds there's dozens of creative ways to getinvolved. Several businesses ask guests to their annu-al Christmas parties to bring items to donate, manycrafters knit stockings or ornaments. Families adopt afamily - from a single mom with one child to a cou-ple with six children - and create a special basket forthem.

Summer 2004 | 5

Increasingly, the face of AIDS is the face of a woman. InCanada, 38.6 per cent of all new HIV infections are women(CDC June 2002). This is reflected in the consumer base of ALoving Spoonful. Twenty-nine per cent of the charity's clientswere women in 2003/2004; if you add dependent children,45 per cent of A Loving Spoonful's resources were directed tothem.

In the early days of the epidemic, when gay men were over-whelmingly the majority of HIV/AIDS diagnoses, it was pri-marily their mothers and their sisters in the lesbian commu-nity who rallied with them to provide services, comfort andcare - because no one else would. The community developedmodels of care unparalleled in community-based and healthcare organizations and that still serve as standards of excel-lence. And now, we need to give back to those mothers, sis-ters, daughters and cousins - and their children.

A Loving Spoonful will again commemorate December 1 byholding a fund raising luncheon and silent auction. Last year, the charity raised $22,000 - enough to buy themeals for the frozen meal delivery program for the month ofDecember. Food and production costs have gone up, and thenumber of clients who need this service has increased - sothis year A Loving Spoonful is aiming to raise $34,000.

Join co-chairs Cynnie Woodward and Dr. Dino Georgas, alongwith a celebrity guest speaker, at the Coast Plaza Hotel andSuites at Stanley Park on Wednesday, December 1.

A Loving Spoonful is already working to bring Christmas joy to its clients,and looking for a few volunteer santas to help. Every year, A Loving Spoonfulstaff and volunteers spend months gathering items for Christmas hampers -confections, specialty foods, and toiletries - and then make and deliver about225 hampers to clients.

World AIDS Dayby Sue Moen

Christmas Hampersby Shawn Hall

Donation FormYes! I want to give love and hope to those who need it mostq $1000 q $500 q $250 q $100 q $50 q Other ______

q Enclosed is my cheque OR please debit my q VISA q Mastercard q American Express

Card # ___________________________________________ Expiry: ___________________

Please consider a monthly donation. It guarantees regular meals and saves on mailing and administrative costs. Credit card or automatic bank transfer

(please enclose void cheque)

Montly Donation: I/We wish to give $ ________ on the q 9th q 15th q 20th q 31st starting ____________________________

Name: __________________________ Telephone: ______________________ Signature: ____________________________

Email: __________________________ q I am not able to make a contribution at this time but let me know about your next fundraising event.

q Please sign me up as a member of A Loving Spoonful ($1.00 of your donation). This allows me to vote at the Annual General Meeting

q Please send me information on Planned Giving.Your personal information is never shared and will be used only for regular A Loving Spoonful activities, e.g. tax receipts, notification of fund raising events, newsletters and appeals).

6 | the HeartBeat

Right from the start

EVERYONE RECOGNIZES THE ENORMOUS TASK OF RAISING A

CHILD AND HOW MUCH ENERGY, DEDICATION AND LOVE IT

REQUIRES. NOW IMAGINE RAISING A CHILD WHEN YOU ARE

HIV-POSITIVE. NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE TO MANAGE YOU

OWN HEALTH AND WELL BEING, BUTYOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR

THE HEALTH OF YOUR CHILD. .

Every parent wants to make the best decisions possiblefor their child. In terms of infant feeding, the WorldHealth Organization states that "when replacementfeeding is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainableand safe, avoidance of all breastfeeding by HIV-infect-ed mothers is recommended.” Health Canada and theCanadian Pediatric Association also recommend this toreduce the risk of transmission from mother to child.

For more than five years, A Loving Spoonful has pro-vided formula to HIV-positive mothers for the first 12months of their baby's life. The mothers on our serviceare often refugees who, in addition to having limitedeconomic resources, are also socially isolated due tocultural and language barriers. In partnership with theOak Tree Clinic at BC Women's and Children'sHospital, the women are referred to A Loving Spoonfuland then receive the formula as needed.

As the infants grow, their nutrition and developmental

needs shift from liquid to solid food. To assist in thetransition from infant formula to regular food, HainCelestial generously donates Earth's Best® OrganicBaby Food. Over the past two years, A Loving Spoonfulhas been able to send jars of pureed meats, vegetablesand fruits to help support the families as their childrengrow and thrive. In a thank-you card sent recently, agrandmother wrote “We just wanted to say how muchwe appreciate all the baby formula and baby food you

have provided for our grandson. I thank you from thebottom of my heart.Your organization truly is 'A LovingSpoonful'.”By having programs that support our clientsover their entire life span, we continue to achieve ourmandate that no one, child or adult, living with AIDSshould live with hunger.

By the way, just after I wrote this article our first dona-tion of baby formula from Abbott Laboratories camethrough the door. This will be an ongoing monthlydonation and we are extremely grateful for it.

For more than five years, A Loving Spoonful has pro-vided formula to HIV-positive mothers for the first12 months of their baby's life.

by Nicole Mireau, A Loving Spoonful Dietitian

I constantly check www.alovingspoonful.orgto update my Social Calendar.

Tuesdays • Denman Freehouse Every Tuesday night is The Loving Lounge, starting at 9 pm withlive dj’s and hostess Diva Willey Taylor. The Denman Street FreeHouse, in coordination with Labatt Breweries is proud to pre-sent The Loving Lounge, where every draft beer ordered equals$1 donated to A Loving Spoonful.. Denman Freehouse, 1780Davie Street (corner of Denman). www.denmanfreehouse.ca

Saturdays • Popular Celebrities Night Club 1022 Davie StreetResident DJ Dickey Doo and weekly special guests spin houseuntil 3 am. Hosted by Cotton and The House of Venus. Cover$10.00. More info at www.celebritiesnightclub.com

Third Monday of Every Month • The PartyPresented by the Lords of the “House of Just Cuz” at theDufferin, this combination Drag Show and party with contestsand draws, benefits A Loving Spoonful every month. MinimumDonation $2.00 at the door.

Wednesday, September 15 • Pie In the Sky Launch Join us on-line and in the community to get your scrumptiousThanksgiving pies! The Celebrity On-line auction is bigger andbetter than ever - just ask Jann Arden. Last possible order date- October 6th.

Thursday, September 16 • Millionth Meal BBQTrout Lake Park 5 - 9 pm. Clients will be feted with a full-onlamb roast and barbeque to commemorate our 1 millionth meal served. Anyone interested in donating food or gift bagitems or volunteering - call the office. 604-682-6325.

Sunday, September 26 • 19th Annual AIDS WalkIf you used to participate in the now defunct Fit for Food eventor sponsor someone that did - register to walk for us. It's less ofa work out but with the same benefits for our programs. Emailspecialevents@alovingspoonful.org to register and receive apledge package.

October • Pie In the SkySee above.

Saturday, November 13 • Prairie Fairy Fall Fowl SupperThe Fillmore Family Foundation once again presents the rip-roaring, foot-stomping, belly-busting good old time - thePrairie Fairy Fall Fowl Supper. See www.fillmorefamily.ca formore details

Wednesday, December 1 • World AIDS Day LuncheonCoast Plaza Suites at Stanley Park. Once again we will honourWorld AIDS Day with a tasty lunch and silent auction. ACelebrity guest speaker will entertain and inform us all. Tickets$150 at www.alovingspoonful.org. The generous sponsorshipof Mike Rogers & Christian Jarvis of First Associates againensures that all proceeds from the event go directly to pro-grams.

November & December • Christmas Hamper CampaignWatch XTRA! West and our web site for drop off locations & spe-cial events to help us fill 250 holiday hampers. Please keep ourclients in mind when organizing your office or neighborhoodparties.

Summer 2004 | 7

Tracey Bell’s

Other contributors – Gifts in KindAbassa Optical, Abbott Laboratories Ltd., Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic, BodyCo Fitness, Boys'Co, Bracken-HorrocksPhotography, Bruce Allen, Capers, Clubcard, Coast Restaurant, Cocoon, Creekhouse Gallery, Cruiseline, Cruisey T, DouglasReynolds Gallery, Easter Armas-Mikulik, Energy/Sixty, Fiddlehead Joes, Figaro's Nursery, Film Crew Care, Flower Factory, GalleryCafe, Gary Bell, Get Fresh Flower Inc., Glowbal Grill & Satay Bar, Gravity Pope, Happy Planet, Hedd Wyn Essentials, Holt Renfrew,John Ferrie, John Fluevog Shoes, Justin Stitches, Labatt Breweries of BC, Le Gravroche, Les Amis du Fromage, Little Sisters Book& Art Emporium Inc., LUSH Cosmetics, M.A.C Cosmetics, Merritt Mt. Music Festival, Mikasa Corp., Obsessions, Opus Hotel,Ornamentum Furniture, Passion Flora, Peking Lounge, Phoenix Perennials, Radio Shack, Rhythm Institute DJ School, Select Wines,Moet & Chandon, Southlands Nursery, Telus Store on Robson, The Lounge Hair Studio, Tiko Kerr, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, TraceyBell , Urban Fare, Urban Impact Recycling Ltd.,Vancouver Art Gallery Gift Shop,Vida Wellness Spa,Yves Veggie Cuisine.

A Loving Spoonful#100-1300 Richards StreetVancouver, BC V6B 3G6tel. 604.682.6325fax. 604.682.6327info@alovingspoonful.orgwww.alovingspoonful.org

Board of DirectorsGraeme Keirstead,PresidentFawn Mulcahy,Vice-PresidentRandy Palmer, TreasurerSherree Mitchell, SecretaryMichael BotnickDr. Sue BurgessKen ChannonDr. Dino GeorgasDan GervasioDavid GoudgeKenneth HamlinSharyle LyndonJulie MarandjianGary MitchellDawn SchoolerSonny Roche

Honorary Directors Easter Armas-MikulikArthur EricksonBill Richardson

We invite you to become avoting member of A LovingSpoonful (registered asVancouver Meals Society).Please contact the office toregister. CharityRegistration #14095-1310-RR0001

You can designate your

United Way donation to ALoving Spoonful by usingnumber 1239 (VancouverMeals Society).

Automatic monthly dona-tions are a way to saveoffice costs and provideregular funding for ourmeals. Contact the officefor more details.

OUR VISIONIn our world of HIV/AIDSthe challenges are many,our vision but one - toenhance the quality of lifeof men, women and chil-dren living with HIV bymeeting their basic needfor food.

OUR MISSIONA Loving Spoonful is a vol-unteer driven, non-partisanSociety that provides free,nutritious meals to peopleliving with HIV in theGreater Vancouver Area.

We believe that by meetingthis fundamental need, weimprove our clients’healthand well being, enablingthem to focus on life’sother demands.

the HeartBeat© ContributorsTracey Bell, Shawn Hall, Olivia Heatley, SueMoen, Gary Mitchell, Karen Opas

Layout & Designelectra . design | communication

We Couldn’t Do it Without YOUCommunity SpiritAl Roadburg FoundationArmy + Navy StoresAsh MarketBody Energy ClubBread Garden BakeryCapers Community MarketsChoices MarketCOBS BreadDodi MarketDogwood Monarchist SocietyElbow Room CafeEstate of Melanie GoldHypatia Shoes LtdIGA MarketplaceInferno Urban Video

International NewsJust Singin' Round FoundationLittle Sisters Book & Art EmporiumInc.Lola Funk - That Ain't No LadyLords of the House of Just CuzM.A.C. on RobsonMoon PenniesNesters Market YaletownPharmasave #252Pink Triangle PressPleasure ChestPro Nails SalonProv. Employees Community ServiceFundSauder FoundationSophie's Cosmic Cafe

SuperValuTelus Employees FundTeresa's CafeToscani Cafe & GrillTuttiVanCity Branch 10Yaletown CleanersYaletown Bean Around the World

In House EventsJan. 1 – Apr. 3015 Years of Love - The WarehouseParty: $29,010 Last Newsletter Appeal: $10,850 Make a Dish donation cans: $3,985

2861666

A Loving Spoonful#100-1300 Richards StreetVancouver, BC V6B 3G6