When you purchase a Christmas tree at one of Aunt Leah’s Place tree lots you’re not only bringing the spicy smell of nature indoors for your winter holiday, you’re helping hundreds of youths get jobs, learn life skills and stay housed.
At least that’s the advice from Kaylie Page, a former foster youth who is now working, supporting herself and volunteering at Aunt Leah’s tree lot at Eagle Ridge United Church in Coquitlam for the next several weeks.
Page is one of 500 volunteers needed to work shifts at the Aunt Leah’s tree lot locations in Metro Vancouver and the agency is looking for local people to help out with the worthy cause.
For Page, who said Christmas hasn’t always been a happy time, helping people select trees is one of the best parts of the holiday season.
“I get to experience the joy of the holiday spirit in seeing the happy smiles,” Page told the Tri-City News in an interview this week.
When she was a youth, Page, now 24, had an extended family care agreement that allowed her to live with families of friends when she couldn’t live at home. But when government care ran out and Page had to make her own way, she relied on Aunt Leah’s for the help and advice normally a parent would give.
“They helped me in every aspect,” Page recalled, nothing that through Aunt Leah’s family care model the young woman received counseling, help with school and food, among other things.
Now that Page is working — she has a security job and is also a community event coordinator organizing Plates of Possibilities supporting youth entrepreneurship — the young woman wants to give back to the organization by volunteering.
She urges others to do the same because the work is not only enjoyable but funds raised, approximately $500,000 last year, support Aunt Leah’s programs for youth and young moms.
“It’s worth it for me,” Page said, “It touches my heart.”
To volunteer or find out more about the trees that are available and hours of operation, visit https://auntleahs.org.
