Hear the Hunger

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Music to feed your soul and the hungry in the Downtown Eastside

Win Air Canada Tickets for 2 anywhere in North America (excluding Hawaii)

Hear the Hunger presents For the Love of LUMS benefit concert and silent auction

April 17, 2008
Firehall Arts Centre – 280 East Cordova Street - doors open at 5:30pm

For the Love of LUMS is a variety music, benefit concert and silent auction that has been put together by a group of friends
volunteering their time and energy for the purpose of bringing communities together to raise money and awareness to the Lutheran
Urban Mission Society (LUMS).

The project was created while one of the organizers was participating in a Landmark Education leadership program
(www.landmarkeducation.com).  Part of the course work was to create a project that benefits the community.

Deena became a friend of LUMS when her son, now 13, who has been volunteering in the meal service with his father since he was
about 8, invited her to come help serve a meal.  Their involvement has brought us so much personal joy, understanding and
acceptance of our societies’ diversities.  “This was the perfect opportunity to help LUMS and a community in desperate need and by
bringing together all the communities in my life we can help make a difference.   The reality is, whether we like it or not these people
are our neighbours and under the most unimaginable circumstances, they could be our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers or
friends”.

LUMS is one of the many valiant organizations that reach out to the challenged and fragile society within the Downtown Eastside.
They offer comfort, support, warmth, a safe environment and a sit-down meal served twice monthly by volunteers.  Perhaps most
importantly, LUMS brings awareness to surrounding communities who may not know just how badly damaged that part of their own
beautiful city is.

LUMS relies heavily on visiting church groups, schools and individuals to provide that much needed meal twice a month. These
noble volunteers fundraise within their own communities; they plan, shop, cook, serve, and clean up after the meal.  However,
several times throughout the year, LUMS has to reach into its own pockets to ensure that lunch is served to those 300 to 400
people waiting in line outside their doors.

The event will be an evening of good food – DaDeO restaurant will be teasing us with a selection of tasty treats from their Louisiana
inspired menu - good friends and great music – featuring five local and talented bands, Two Tall Women, Tommy Rocks, Saltwater
Cowboys, Bolt the Door and Latin Beat.  Folk, contemporary, 50/60’s rock n roll, Cajun and Latin music, a little something for
everyone.

We will be highlighting the sombre reason we’re all gathered, to raise funds and awareness to the desperate need for organizations
like LUMS and the work they do on behalf of our marginalized Neighbours in the DTES, but the evening is meant to be fun and light hearted.  Kevin
Bergsma and alter ego Crushed Velvet, our delightfully funny host and MC, will skilfully change the colour of the evening into a
celebration of everyone’s efforts and to the possibility of a changed and healthy future for every community in our beautiful city.

During the show there will be opportunities to win some fun prizes and we will be drawing the winning raffle tickets for:
Grand prize - Air Canada tickets for two anywhere in Continental North America (excludes Hawaii)
2nd prize - Weekend for two at Whistler Four Seasons
3rd prize - Dinner for eight at  DaDeOs restaurant

We all know it’s there, we all know it’s bad and we all need to help. While it may not be possible for each and every one of us to be
there in a hands-on capacity, we can help support the organizations that do.

Please call Deena Easton – 604 916 1774 – for more information
http://hearthehunger.com/blog/

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