We kindly request your support in helping Monet and her family.

Monet, a former grade 7 EDAS Club member who has now graduated, has been a valuable member of our EDAS adult team, working on our social media and joining our delivery team in East Hastings, Vancouver.

Monet had been diligently saving money for several months to fulfill her dream of traveling overseas. Her plan was to spend two nights in Paris and then fly into Hamburg, Germany, to surprise her new love, Jonas, and spend Christmas with his family.

Unfortunately, after we spent the day delivery student EDAS care packages to four shelters on the downtown East Side and throughout the back allies to those suffering this Christmas, during a meal with our team, our vehicles were broken into, and Monet's carry-on bag, containing her passport and 300 Euros from her grandparents, was stolen. This incident threatened to shatter her dream trip, unless we could find a way to obtain an emergency passport in less then 24 hours. However, it was already Saturday evening, and time was running out.

I will forever be so proud of our EDAS team♥️.

Each of our team members drew from their strengths and immediately took action. We filed police reports, replaced Monet's lost funds, and her parents reached out to Air Canada to explore the possibility of changing her ticket. Unfortunately, the only option available would cost an additional $1400, which had to be used within two days. Considering they had already paid $1200 for the original ticket, it seemed like Monet's special holiday would be lost.

However, we were all determined not to let that happen. At 10:30pm that night, we miraculously managed to get Monet's passport photos taken at a Shoppers Drug Mart. A kind clerk opened the photo booth after realizing the urgency of the situation.

A government worker from the emergency passport line also came to our aid. After 30 minutes of navigating through the system to access someone for help, a gentlemen took a personal interest in Monet's case and guided her step by step to complete all the necessary paperwork online. With the help of our teammate Jaki Vlahovic who drove the team all over Vancouver and Richmond, and just by fluke had her own passport with her so Jaki’s own passport could act as a guarantor, we were able to complete the extensive paperwork and arrange meetings at the closed passport office. Mr. Randall and I served as references, with just a phone call needed from both of us to answer any questions.

Meanwhile, Monet's parents spent $2600 to purchase another ticket for her, and an additional $500 was spent to cover the cost of the emergency passport. Miraculously, her new emergency passport was issued at 4:20pm on Sunday. What an unbelievable gift of a miracle! And in less then 24 hours and on a Sunday?!

We went for one last meal together and arranged for Monet to stay in an airport hotel with a shuttle directly to the airport.

At 9am on Monday, Monet flew out to Germany and arrived in Hamburg at 12:30am. Although she missed out on her Paris experience, she remained thrilled to be able to spend Christmas with Jonas and his family, only missing one day of her trip.

Now, we humbly ask our community to help Monet and her family by raising the $3330 spent on her extra ticket, emergency passport, and airport hotel. Her family has already been through so much, with the unexpected challenges and changes in their lives after Monet’s dad George experienced an aortic dissection that ruptured and the life saving surgery resulted in him becoming a paraplegic. This extraordinary family is resilient and positive, but covering these unexpected costs is just not easy for them.

Please consider contributing any amount to help Monet and her family. Your support will make a significant difference in ensuring that Monet's dream trip that was almost robbed from her does not put an extra burden on her and her parents after she has worked so hard to make it all possible.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our EDAS team, Monet's family, and everyone involved in making this Christmas miracle happen.

Madame Chantal and the EDAS Team ♥️