St. Patrick’s Day ‘Tea for Two’ delivery

Submitted by Luana Gillies

The Valley GoGo Sisters, a group of local grandmothers, is maintaining its St. Patrick’s Day tradition. Having originally hosted our tea as an in-person gathering for 14 years, we have been pleased to offer tea delivery the past two years. We encourage you now to order ahead to enjoy ‘Tea for Two – or just for you’: eight pieces of home-baked sweet treats and tea, for $25.00. The deadline for ordering is March 12 and a maximum of 50 orders will be accepted. All orders will be delivered mid-day on March 17.

All proceeds go to the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) Grand- mothers Campaign. The Foundation launched the campaign in March 2006, in response to the emerging crisis faced by African grandmothers as they struggled to care for millions of children orphaned by the HIV/ AIDS pandemic. Without hesitation or complaint, Africa’s grandmothers have stepped in to care for them. Many of these women have watched their own children die, and now must generate income and provide the care needed to raise another family.

The SLF funds grass roots, community based organizations in 15 countries. It operates on a social justice model, treating African grandmothers as equal partners, with respect, trust and empowerment. Many projects supported by SLF begin with meeting basic needs such as food, shelter, income and grandkids attending school, but the emotional needs from the trauma of the AIDS pandemic are addressed next, and the final step is the development of advocacy to better their own conditions and the conditions of other grandmothers.

For more information or to place an order, please contact Luana Gillies, 250 342-9600 (email blgillies65@gmail.com) or Sherry Dewey, 250 342-9733 (email sherrydewey56@gmail.com)