Franciscan Sisters leaving the Downtown Eastside

The Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement are leaving the Downtown Eastside at the end of August. Presently, many in our community  are getting together to generate ideas to pay tribute to the Sisters for all that they have done and are still doing in the Downtown Eastside. They started their ministry with the Japanese about 85 years ago and played a great part in helping with the evacuation of the Japanese during the Second World War.  Many of us from Vancouver and Steveston  were the recipients of their kindness and assistance when about 1,700 Japanese were taken to Greenwood, a ghost town in the interior of BC.  There, they helped us to re-settle, established a private school and were there for our spiritual and physical needs.

Now, a few of us from Greenwood  have come up with the idea of having a food booth, paying tribute to the Franciscans at the Powell St. Festival!  We will need all the help we can get!  The PSF Committee has approved our application for a food booth. There are many of us  that are so indebted and have not forgotten!!  We call on you to help us as it will be a lot of work and we will also need some donations to get it going. Also, the Greenwood people made the best karinto and the best chow-mein noodles. We know who you are, so please help us!!

Won’t it be wonderful to come together and do something good and fun for the Franciscans, and in our own little way, repay them for all that they have done for us!!  This would be a wonderful opportunity for many of us to have a great re-union and remember the good ol’ days!

If you would like to make a cash donation, you can mail it to:
Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement
385 Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC, V6A 1L4

For more info, or to get involved, please contact Lurana Kikko Tasaka at 604.736.3182 or email kikko.lurana@gmail.com