Winter 2006 No One Living with AIDS Should Live with Hunger www.alovingspoonful.org

A Food Basket's Story: The inner workings of A Loving Spoonful's daily meals program by Shawn Hall

Every Tuesday a dozen volunteers show up at A Loving Spoonful's office at 10:30 a.m. to spend the next two hours packing food into plastic grocery bags. Later that afternoon, 150 of the charity's clients will get a knock on the door when another volunteer stops by to deliver their meals for the next week.

HE DAILY MEALS PROGRAM IS THE CORE OF WHAT A LOVING SPOONFUL DOES. EACH TUESDAY, THAT PROGRAM'S CLIENTS TWILL RECEIVE A BAG FULL OF FOOD, WITH SEVEN FROZEN ENTREES, DAIRY PRODUCTS, SNACKS INCLUDING DRIED FRUIT AND GRANOLA, BREAD, AND FRESH FRUIT FOR EACH PERSON IN THEIR FAMILY. THEY STORE THE MEALS IN FREEZERS, AND HEAT THEM UP IN MICROWAVES - APPLIANCES OFTEN DONATED TO THEM BY THE CHAR- ITY.

“Our clients have come to the point in their fight against AIDS that they lack the strength to get to the grocery store to buy food and to cook nutritious meals for themselves,” says Sue Moen, A Loving Spoonful's executive director.“And yet, nutrition is a Sharon Miller, an A critical tool in the fight against the disease. Without Loving Spoonful proper food, people with AIDS will become even volunteer, preparing weaker. It's a spiral we head off with the daily meals food parcels for and other programs.” delivery.

A bag for an individual client is stuffed with seven the meals in batches, then vacuum seals and freezes frozen entrees, a snack pack, fresh fruit, and a loaf of them. Capers delivers cases of these meals - one kind bread. The frozen meals come straight from Capers' of meal per case - to A Loving Spoonful's warehouse Robson store, where they are prepared especially for three times a week, where they're stored in a walk-in A Loving Spoonful to meet the unique dietary needs freezer. of someone living with AIDS. Each Tuesday, the charity's packing volunteers start Capers provides the meals at cost. Each frozen entrée by picking up a bag labelled with details of one costs A Loving Spoonful about $5.50. Once the other client's dietary needs and food preferences. They go items are tallied up, one weekly basket costs the char- through the cases of bulk meals and pick out seven ity $42. Capers has a dedicated chef who prepares all that fit that criteria and stack them up in a bag. The continued on p. 2 A Food Basket’s Story continued from cover bag is topped up with the other items, labeled, and each client. Six clients receive Ensure each month placed in a cooler for storage. because of a donation from its manufacturer, Abbott. Each snack pack costs about $3. None of that food is A typical week's menu of meals might include free - even Quest must charge a fee for delivery. spaghetti with meat sauce, beef stroganoff, teriyaki Rather, it is all paid for from donations made by indi- salmon, roast beef, roast pork, glazed chicken, and a viduals and corporations, and raised at events. breakfast burrito. Other options would include turkey dinner, beef stroganoff, pork sausage, seafood kebab, Maitland meets with A Loving Spoonful's dietitian, beef pie, or chicken lasagna. Nicole Mireau, and suppliers every few weeks to talk about what clients are eating to ensure everything is “It's critical the meals not only be nutritious, but also both palatable and nutritious, and as inexpensive as that they contain more protein and calories than nor- possible.“The demand for our service exceeds what mal diets, as people living with HIV need the addi- we have the finances to supply, so it's critical we tional nutrition,” says Lukas Maitland, A Loving make every dollar go as far as possible,” Maitland Spoonful's director of programs.“ says.

In that spirit, the society runs with only three full time staff, plus Mireau on half-time and Kaelan Wong, a part-time employee who directs the ordered chaos that is the daily meals program each Tuesday. More You're inside, in your room, than 170 volunteers pitch in to staff the various food programs and fundraisers and to sit on the board and by yourself. Eventually people supporting committees. Each Tuesday between 3 and stop coming to visit. Family 7 pm., another two dozen volunteers are out about “ town in their own vehicles running up stairs to deliv- and friends may also stop er bags to individual clients and families.

coming because of the stigma Many of their stops are single room hotel rooms and of being HIV positive. social housing in east . A Loving Spoonful's clients universally face multiple challenges in addi- tion to HIV and AIDS, most notably poverty. They're not strong enough to work, and many don't have a support network. “Being sick makes you isolated,” ” Maitland says.“You're inside, in your room, by your- self. Eventually people stop coming to visit. Family The food must also be easy to prepare and contain no and friends may also stop coming because of the stig- spices or intense flavouring. About a third of our ma of being HIV positive.” meals are dairy free and another third are soft as many of our clients experience stomach and diges- The good news is that some baskets go out only half tion problems as a side effect of anti-retroviral thera- full. They're the success stories, because it means the py or have serious dental issues that make chewing clients receiving them have regained some strength and swallowing difficult.” and are starting to again shop and cook some of their own meals and don't need a full basket any more. The snack packs are pulled together from a number In fact, last year 20 clients removed themselves from of sources. Dairyland delivers a supply of yogurt cups, the Daily Meals Program because they had regained milk or cheese to A Loving Spoonful every Tuesday sufficient strength. morning. Each client gets four. Truffles Organic Catering prepares a pack of granola, nuts, and four Last year, A Loving Spoonful delivered almost pieces of dried fruit for each client. The fresh fruit is 100,000 meals through all its meal programs, spend- ordered directly from a produce wholesaler, while ing $544,440 donated by individuals, foundations, Quest Outreach Society provides bread and treats for community groups and corporations to do so.

2 | the HeartBeat

Making Time for Kindness: A profile of two A Loving Spoonful volunteers by Irena Pochop

In 2005, volunteers donated more than 20,000 hours to A Loving Spoonful. With its wide range of volunteer opportunities and flexible hours, A Loving Spoonful has become a popular choice for people who want to give back to their commu- nity while gaining invaluable communication and leadership skills.

WO SUCH VOLUNTEERS ARE SOHEIL SHARIFI, A UBC STUDENT actively involved in the process is a must.“Everyone WHO HAS BEEN WITH A LOVING SPOONFUL FOR SIX MONTHS, is there for just that time, and in this sense it is a lim- TAND POONAM JASSI, AN SFU STUDENT WHO BECAME A ited opportunity.”The answer, he suggests, is to take LOVING SPOONFUL VOLUNTEER TWO YEARS AGO. SHARIFI JOINED A full advantage of the opportunities that this volunteer LOVING SPOONFUL'S VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP TEAM (VLT) IN JULY position offers by being proactive: “I volunteer myself 2005, AND SINCE THEN HAS BEEN STEADILY GAINING A CLEARER for doing things and that helps a lot.” Sharifi adds UNDERSTANDING OF HIS DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. volunteering with A Loving Spoonful has two great benefits: gaining experience, and knowing you're “I didn't know what to expect at first,” says Sharifi. doing something worthwhile. “'VLT' sounded so formal and such a big deal that I was expecting a large room and a large table and people in suits sitting down and discussing volun- teers. The first meeting especially I was totally lost. Everyone kept talking about VLT, but I had no idea what that was. Finally, I had to ask, 'what is VLT?'”

The embarrassment at not recognizing the acronym for his own committee did not last long thanks to the graciousness of the people on Sharifi's team. “Everyone there was very nice and very welcoming,” Sharifi says, adding he was surprised that many of the volunteers he met on this first day were around his own age (early 20s). What also surprised Sharifi on this first day was the professionalism of the other vol- unteers. Sharifi credits this professionalism with the steady development of his own leadership, manage- ment, and communication skills - the very skills he was hoping to build through his involvement with A Soheil Sharifi Loving Spoonful.

“I've gained a lot from the experience, but it's been a “I know that it sounds like a cliché, but it's true.You slow and steady process,” he says. “You have to be go home at the end of the day and you ask yourself if patient with it. I've met a nice group of people and you've done something…have you been productive I've gotten to know the other committee members. enough? And then the skills that I've developed Karen Opas, A Loving Spoonful's Director of through my Loving Spoonful volunteer work. Getting Volunteers, does a wonderful job. She is one of the experience from the people on my committee who do best volunteer coordinators I've seen - very profes- this kind of work for a living…these are also the most sional and very nice.” Because the Volunteer rewarding parts of this work.” Leadership Committee meets only for 90 minutes every month, Sharifi is discovering that becoming For those who are considering this kind of volunteer

Winter 2006 | 3

Making Time for Kindness continued from p. 3 work, Sharifi offers only the following bit of advice: whelmed or in need of help there are always people “Don't get overwhelmed, it takes a while. Don't willing to lend a hand. I have been able to control my expect to know everything right away and perform level of involvement, which as a student is great. I like the people who have been there for a while. And have been given the opportunity to take on leader- don't be disappointed if after a month or two you're ship roles at various events, and I feel like I am con- not seeing the effects. It slowly picks up and you stantly learning more about the organization and eventually do see the difference that you make.” about ways in which I can get involved.” Poonam Jassi is a more seasoned member of A Loving Spoonful's Volunteer Leadership Team. She became a Because she has been A Loving Spoonful volunteer volunteer in the summer of 2003 after she saw a post- for two years already, Jassi has had both the time and ing on Volunteer Vancouver’s website.“ I had heard a opportunity to see up lot about A Loving Spoonful and really believed in close the difference that the work. I thought it would be a lot of fun,”she says. her work has made.“At the end of an event Jassi says her involvement with A Loving Spoonful when we get the recap helped her make great friends and feel connected to on how much money the community after she moved to Vancouver from a we have raised and how small town. Jassi too remembers some of the initial many meals that trans- challenges of this position.“It was a bit difficult for me lates to, it just feels awe- in the beginning to get a feel of what was expected of some to know that the me and what guidelines I needed to follow.”This ini- work I put in helped us Poonam Jassi tial uncertainty, however, quickly dissipated once get there.” Her two Jassi took on her first event. Like Sharifi, she credits years of experience have also helped her feel like she the help and guidance of other committee members is part of a team and that she and her co-volunteers with making the transition a little easier. are all working towards the same common goal. This, along with a great sense of accomplishment, is for One might expect the greatest difficulty for A Loving Jassi the most rewarding part of the work. Spoonful volunteers might be scheduling their volun- teer work around busy lives. However, time manage- Jassi has recommended several friends who now vol- ment issues have not been a problem for Jassi or for unteer with the charity. “I have told them how fun Sharifi. Sharifi divides his time between working and rewarding it has been. I have told them that they part-time on his undergraduate degree in Science at can make whatever they want out of the experience, UBC, a part-time job at Starbucks, volunteer research be as involved as they are able to and learn as much assistant work for a clinical research project, volun- as they feel inclined to.” teer work for UBC hospital, and volunteer work for AIDS Vancouver. How does he fit in A Loving Spoonful? He simply puts in as much time as he can, and commits himself only to those events that do not conflict with his schedule.

Jassi is also a busy student. She is in her final year of a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and This past October A Loving Spoonful added an extra sweet- ener to the annual Pie in the Sky Thanksgiving fundraising Biochemistry at SFU, is completing her final co-op sale. semester at Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, and also volunteers for CARS BC (Counterattack and Harmony Air generously donated two tickets to Toronto and Road Sense) and for the Union Gospel Mission Soup every person who bought a pie was entered into the draw. Susan Ackland, an employee with the Downtown Kitchen in New Westminster. How does she fit in Community Health Centre was the winner. “She rushed over more volunteer work with this many obligations? from work that same day and exclaimed I never win any- thing!”, says Sue Moen, A Loving Spoonful's executive direc- “Sometimes it gets hard to fit it in,”Jassi admits,“but tor. “ the Spoonful is very flexible and understanding with This was a great way to honour our supporters, and encour- my scheduling conflicts. I try to just take on lighter age pie sales and we hope to continue the tradition in 2006.” loads around exam periods and if I ever feel over-

4 | the HeartBeat

World AIDS DAY: Real people Dining Out for Life with real stories by Matt O'Grady by Lainie Shore n this famously outdoorsy city, dining out orld AIDS Day was not just about supporting ongoing has become one of the few indoor activities efforts to combat AIDS. At A Loving Spoonful's annu- Ithat Vancouverites have adopted with Wal World AIDS Day Luncheon, it was also about real gusto. We spend more per capita in restau- people with real stories. Emceed by Bill Richardson, attendees rants - up to 50 percent more - than do our were honored to have Dr. Julio Montaner and Vancouver artist wealthier cousins in Toronto and we're regularly recognized for Joe Average share their stories. With nearly 30 years working in the field, Dr. Julio Montaner, director of Clinical Services for having amongst the very best eateries in all of Canada, places the BC Center for Excellence in HIV and AIDS, noted the like Lumière and West. Our restauranteurs have developed a tremendous progress that had been made in the fight against reputation for their generosity of spirit, as Toronto Life's food HIV and the effectiveness of drug therapies that have been critic James Chatto noted after a recent visit: “Generally, chefs developed. However, he reminded everyone that addressing there liaise and hobnob and help each other out in a way that the medical component is only one part of assisting those liv- makes our Toronto toques seem positively anti-social.” ing with HIV and AIDS. “How can one be expected to deal with taking medication while facing pressing life realities such as needing food to eat and having a roof over one's head?” A great example of Vancouver's giving spirit is the annual Dining Out for Life (DOFL) fundraiser, held this year on March 23. Now entering its second decade, the event brings togeth- er almost 200 restaurants from across the Lower Mainland (and beyond) to raise money for those living with HIV/AIDS. Participating restaurants will donate 25 percent of their food revenues on that night for the cause.

One of the key players for the past four years has been down- town seafood/chophouse icon, Joe Fortes. Darren Gates, man- aging partner of the restaurant-which is hosting the Dining Out for Life launch on March 7-is a big fan of the event, and the Joe Average, Sue Moen & Dr. Julio Montaner (from left) cause, because of its strong local focus. “Our business name- sake, Joe Fortes, was a civic-minded individual and our giving Dr. Montaner also reflected on the challenges facing health care professionals working to get new medication approved philosophy is built around that idea,” says Gates. “Our people and out to those who need it. In sum, Dr. Montaner remarked wish to see our community better itself…and the situation that data shows treatment of HIV/AIDS is highly effective. It [facing those living with HIV/AIDS] will only improve if more prevents hospitalization and it decreases the spread of the dis- people-and by extension, establishments-commit to giving.” ease. “We need to help people gain access to treatment Industry veteran Andre McGillivray-currently the general man- because it is good for them and good for society.” ager at Lumière-has been involved in Dining Out for Life from Artist Joe Average shared what his life has been like since day one. While he has been a long-time supporter of A Loving being diagnosed with HIV 25 years ago. Delivering the mes- Spoonful, donating throughout the year, he sees this annual sage that “if I let HIV take over my world it would” Joe Average event as a way for the industry to make one big statement. told the audience that when diagnosed, as a “distraction” he chose his one true love, art, and challenged himself to live and “It gains a huge amount of awareness,” says McGillivray, “and work as an artist. He has been doing so ever since. After detail- ing many of his personal tribulations while living with HIV, that's evident in the sheer volume of restaurants that are now including malnutrition and depression, Joe Average thanked involved with it.”He agrees with Toronto Life's Chatto that the the people who he has found “amazingly kind and generous” local industry is a collaborative one, with restaurants regularly and specifically referred to four individuals whose compassion sending each other customers and recommending each moved him, as well as everyone else in the room. A other. That doesn't mean, however, that old-fashioned rivalry is Loving Spoonful's Sue Moen was one of these special four and she, along with A Loving Spoongful, was thanked for deliver- dead. “The best thing about Dining Out for Life is the fun of the ing seven organic meals a week which Joe noted “has been 'competition,' trying to out-do other restaurants,” says such an important part of staying healthy and strong.” McGillivray. “But in the end, everybody wins. You just make more money for the cause.” What Joe Average made most clear is that with what these four special people provide him, nutrition, an extra set of hands, strength, and laughter, he “has the essentials to live and For more information on participating restaurants, go to to want to live. “ The full text of Joe's speech can be read at www.DiningOutForLife.com. www.joeaverageart.com

Winter 2006 | 5

Good nutrition & the right ingredients by Nicole Mireau, A Loving Spoonful Dietitian

UST BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS SOMEONE ASKED ME WHY ONE HIV also causes hypermetabolism, where nutrients are LOCAL CHARITY ADVERTISES THAT THEY CAN MAKE A MEAL FOR processed so fast after they are digested that they can- JUNDER $3 WHILE A LOVING SPOONFUL'S AVERAGE MEAL COSTS not be absorbed or used efficiently. Hypermetabolism OVER $5. THE MAIN REASON IS THAT MOST CHARITIES OPERATE FROM causes an increased need for nutrients. This process itself uses a large amount of energy and again causes FOOD DONATIONS AND ONLY PURCHASE WHAT THEY NEED TO food requirements to increase.Although it is not well ROUND OUT THOSE DONATIONS, WHILE CAPER'S MARKET MAKES understood, HIV also changes how the body stores OUR MEALS WITH CAREFULLY-CHOSEN INGREDIENTS. IT'S CRITICAL, protein. Protein is vital to the body so it is generally FOR EXAMPLE, THAT EACH OF OUR MEALS HAS A SERVING OF HIGH- absorbed efficiently, even when other nutrients are not. QUALITY PROTEIN. The problem occurs afterwards, when the protein stores Protein is one of the most important parts of an HIV + are immediately drawn out again. This results in excess person's diet. Their bodies can require more than dou- losses from muscle and organ tissues and contributes to ble the amount of protein a healthy body needs. The the muscle wasting that can give HIV+ people a gaunt HIV virus affects the body in many ways, three of them appearance. If you add in decreased eating due to poor directly impacting on protein needs. appetite, nausea or fatigue, it can become next to HIV causes breakdown of the tissue structure in the impossible to get enough protein to meet the body's stomach and intestines. This leads to malabsorption, as needs. the ability of the intestines to absorb nutrients is less- ened and the body loses more nutrients than it takes in. Good nutrition is critical to prevent and treat the symp- Malabsorption occurs when the food you eat cannot be toms and complications of HIV. By ensuring there is a digested into the simplest form, preventing it from healthy serving of protein in every meal, we assist our entering the bloodstream and being used by individual clients in their daily struggle to manage the virus and cells. keep their bodies as strong as possible.

Donation Form Yes! I want to give love and hope to those who need it most Please consider joining Bill’s Kitchen. 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 $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: ______

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

Tracey Bell’s

I constantly check www.alovingspoonful.org to update my Social Calendar.

March 23 • Save the Date for Dining Out for Life at the Dufferin, this combination Drag Show and Dining Out For Life is Vancouver's premiere party with contests and draws, benefits A Loving restaurant fundraising event benefiting A Loving Spoonful every month. Minimum Donation $2.00 Spoonful and Friends For Life. This year on March at the door. 23rd more than 180 restaurants from Whistler to White Rock and all over Vancouver will donate Tuesdays • Denman Freehouse 25 per cent of food sales on that day to A Loving Every Tuesday night is The Loving Lounge, start- Spoonful and Friends for Life. For up-to-date list- ing at 9 pm with live dj's and hostess Diva Willey ing of participating restaurants or to donate Taylor where every draft beer ordered equals $1 online, visit http://www.DiningOutForLife.com. donated to A Loving Spoonful. www.denman- freehouse.ca. June 1 • Project Empty Bowl Come celebrate the 5th biennial Project Empty Every Thursday • ZIN Restaurant Bowl with us. Prominent members of the clay, Reserve the Red Ribbon Table any Thursday night glass, metal and wood artisan communities will at ZIN Restaurant & Lounge by calling 604-408- create significant bowls specifically for this event. 1700 and 25% of your meal will benefit Dining These creations are auctioned at a Gala evening Out For Life all year long. www.zin-restaurant.com of beautiful donated food, drink and song. Tickets $65.00 and include a hand-made bowl to take Saturdays • Popular home, food and beverages and silent auction. Celebrities Night Club Resident DJ Dickey Doo and weekly special guests spin house until 3 am. Third Monday of Every Month • The Party Hosted by Cotton and The House of Venus. Presented by the Lords of the "House of Just Cuz" Cover $10.00. www.celebritiesnightclub.com.

Ongoing events and supporters can be viewed on our web site.

Winter 2006 | 7 A Loving Spoonful 100-1300 Richards Street We Couldn’t Do it Without YOU Vancouver, BC V6B 3G6 tel. 604.682.6325 fax. 604.682.6327 Community Spirit M.A.C AIDS Foundation [email protected] Meadowlark Resources Corp Momentum Grooming Products www.alovingspoonful.org 1.6 design studio art gallery Dr. Julio Montaner A Cruisey T Production Ltd. Nesters Market Yaletown Board of Directors Abbott Laboratories Ltd. OrionHealth Services Inc. AIDS Foundation Of Canada Pacific Blue Cross/ BC Life Graeme Keirstead, President Al Roadburg Foundation P-Can Altria Group Inc. Peak Performance Fawn Mulcahy, Vice-President Amarcord Management Ltd. Bryan Parker, Treasurer Peppercorn Investments Ltd. Army + Navy Stores Pharmasave Julie Marandjian, Secretary Ash Market Priape BC Institute Of Technology Providence Healthcare Teresa Bassani BCNU Shaunessy Heights Region Lorne Beiles Pumpjack Pub Ltd. Body Energy Club RBC Financial Group Dr. Sue Burgess Book Warehouse RBC Foundation Ken Channon Boys'Co Rogers Video Burnaby Firefighters Tony Edgecombe Samhain Vancouver C 'n' W Dance Promotions Sid Dickens Dr. David Lai Capers Community Markets skiOUT Sharyle Lyndon Central Park Studios St. Paul's Emergency Associates Randy Palmer Choices Market Starbucks Coffee Company COBS Breads SuperValu Danica Piche Coo-Coo Coffee TD Canada Trust - Yaletown Sonny Roche Cruiseline Teekay Shipping Davis & Co. Barristers & Solicitors Teligence Communications Inc. Honorary Directors Dodi Market Corporation Douglas College - Nursing Program Teresa's Cafe Easter Armas Dr. D. E. Pezzot Inc. The 1988 Foundation Dr. Ian Mitchell Inc. Arthur Erickson The Andrew Mahon Foundation Dr. John D. Edworthy Inc. The Donner Foundation Bill Richardson Edoko Food Importers Ltd. The Oasis Pub Elbow Room Cafe The Simons Foundation We invite you to become a voting EnCana Cares Foundation Trilogy Properties Corp. English Bay Bowling League Tutti member of A Loving Spoonful (regis- F212 (971 Holdings) Ultra Love tered as Vancouver Meals Society). Feiht Productions Ltd. Union of BC Performers Please contact the office to register. Fillmore Family Foundation University of Gandy's Home Hardware Urban Fare Georgina Foundation Yaletown Market (Bean Around the World) Charity Registration GlaxoSmithKline Zacks Family Charitable Foundation #14095-1310-RR0001 Greater Vcr Community Services Society Zulu Records Havana Restaurant & Gallery Holland Canada Line Inc. You can designate your United Way Holt Renfrew donation to A Loving Spoonful by HSBC Bank Canada In House Events IGA Marketplace using number 1239 (Vancouver Meals Joe Average Sep 2005 - Dec 2005 Society). John Allan Bridges Memorial Foundation Keran Holdings Ltd. Pie in the Sky $7,120.00 Ketchum Canada Inc. World AIDS Day Luncheon $16,500.00 Automatic monthly donations are a Kitsilano Christian Community Christmas Hamper Campaign $32,580.00 way to save office costs and provide Knights of Malta Other In house fund raising $72,770.00 regular funding for our meals. Contact Labatt Bill's Kitchen Monthly Donor club $4,608.00 Lords of the House of Just Cuz Corporate Donations $80,000.00 the office for more details Little Sisters Book & Art Emporium Inc. Foundation Grants $79,300.00 about Bill's Kitchen. Mazon Canada – a Jewish response to hunger Community and Miscellaneous $24,800.00 OUR VISION In our world of HIV/AIDS the chal- lenges are many, our vision but one - to enhance the quality of life of men, women and children living with HIV by meeting their basic need for food. OUR MISSION A Loving Spoonful is a volunteer dri- ven, non-partisan Society that provides free, nutritious meals to people living with HIV in the Greater Vancouver Area. We believe that by meeting this fundamental need, we improve our Other contributors – Gifts in Kind clients’health and well being, enabling Abbott Laboratories Ltd., Abell Pest Control, Alcan Primary Metals, Arts Club Theatre, Ballet BC, BC College of Teachers, Bed, Boucher them to focus on life’s other demands. Naturopathic School, Boys'Co, Brittinia Seconday Home Ec Dep't, Business Objects, Buy Design, CC Beverage Corp, Charlie's Chocolate Factory, CinCin Restaurant, CineMark, CLS Catering Services Ltd., COBS Breads, Creekhouse Gallery, Current Fashions, David Thompson Home Ec Dep't , Delany's Specialty Coffee, Deserving Thyme, Diva at the Met, DNA Imprints, Dr. Brian Ens-Oldham, Dr. Neil McDonald, the HeartBeat© Contributors Dutch Girl Chocolates, East India Carpet, Elev8, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Flower Factory, Foster Wine Agents, Ginch Gonch, Graphic Agents, Holt Renfrew, Hotel Vancouver, , Jenny Kleinsteuber, Just Singin' Round Foundation, K9 Biscuit Company, Karen Tracey Bell, Shawn Hall, Sue Moen, Nicole Mireau, Mealey RMT, Kidd Bros. Honey, Kodak, Koolhaus, Lookout Emergency Aid Society, M.A.C Cosmetics, Meinhardt Fine Foods, Millenium Matt O'Grady, Karen Opas, Irena Pochop, Lainie Shore Mattress, Miraj Hamman Spa, Momentum Grooming Products, Nature's Path Foods, Oasis Pub, Omega Nutrition, Origins Coffee Company, Pacific Baroque Orchestra Society, Pan Pacific Hotel, Peking Lounge, petography, Purdy's Chocolate, Pure Nail Bar, Rocky Graphic Design Mountain Chocolate, Ron Joyce Portrait Photos, Roots, Sacred Heart Tattoo, Sid Dickens, Sir Winston Churchill Home Ec Dep't, Starbucks, The Fountainhead Pub, The Metropolitan Hotel, The Pacific Sun Company, The Vancouver Courier, Turtle & Hare Creative, UBC Family electra . design Practice, UC Media, Urban Fare, Vancouver East Cultural Centre, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Vida Wellnes Spa, Womyn's Ware Inc., XTRA! West