Oak Avenue Neighbourhood Hub Society

04/07/2026

04/07/2026

The Clothes Closet Program will be closed on Wednesday April 8. We are sorry for any inconveniences.

02/20/2026

Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) Stories: "The Women’s Professional Networking Series"
By Cinthia
I wanted to bring women together and be able to create a support network that could help them personally and professionally. I promoted the gathering through Facebook groups, Instagram and whatsapp groups. Approximately 80-90 across the different events in the series participated.
They all loved it and asked if we could make it happen again. Women in North Surrey were able to find other women who work in their same fields, networked and created relationships that will help them personally and professionally. Really appreciate your support in making this project happen.

02/13/2026

Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) Stories:
Organizer: Carla Centola
It has been a wonderful season doing many different projects and programs with the grant money we received from you. I was able to do multiple food security projects, and start a low cost food security grocery store to help act similar to a food bank, starting with your grant to help supply some of the initial products and some supplies needed for the project such as shelving.
A community garden – purchased supplies for garden, as well as seeds and initial plants (all food/ vegetables related) to help provide free produce for our community. Then, I was able to make small grocery bags of fresh produce and hand them out for free.
A cooking class – to get community members together and cook a meal surrounding Kale (which was taken from the garden I created with the grant money). We purchased a few other ingredients for the class as well. We had a great turn out, and many people extremely excited for future cooking classes.
Multiple nutrition education workshops, with some healthy ingredients provided, as well as education on various ways to increase food security
Start of a food program that we are hoping will be ongoing – a ‘low cost’ grocery store where we provide a mix of various foods and ingredients for donation, and we use these donations to purchase future healthy foods and ingredients, and for future food security workshops – started with your grant to help fund beginning costs and supplies 😊
I am excited to see what else we can do in the future with more grants and supports. We have been able to reach well over 200 people through the various programs done with this grant, and I am excited to see how I can further help supply foods to people and increase food knowledge and support 😊

02/06/2026

Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) Stories:
Organizer: Zion Hintay
The main catalyst for starting this program was to help out the homeless in my area and enable those unable to afford a bike to get one either repaired or received for free.
It all started from a theft that happened to me in the middle of July. I left out a bike, I had recently gotten from Facebook Marketplace exchange, outside T&T within Surrey Central Mall. It was stolen within a few minutes of me entering and exiting the supermarket.
I wasn’t really angry or anything I was just disappointed in the situation. So I thought there had to be something I could do. And that’s where the idea for giving out bikes to the homeless started. The Backpack Initiative was something I developed later that I wanted to do. So I set out with a backpack full of supplies: toilet paper, bandages, shoes, extra clothes and an older music mp3 player. I gave these all to a woman who was camped out in a nearby park from my house called, Newton Pond Park. I use to play music there for the birds on that same mp3 player. I also carried a bag of shoes which I handed out to two men by Coast Capital Savings beside Newton Exchange. The goal was to help the homeless get bikes in hopes that they wouldn’t need to steal them.

01/30/2026

Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) Stories:
I started this project because I care deeply for people who are experiencing homelessness. I often see people outside in the cold without the basic items they need, and I wanted to help in a meaningful way. I put the care packages together so they could have warm essentials like gloves, socks, toques, a warm blanket, and a poncho. I also added hand and body wipes, a toothbrush and toothpaste, granola bars, crackers, tissues, water, and even a small treat. I wanted the packages to feel thoughtful and be packed in a nice bag. Even though I don’t talk about it a lot, I really care about helping people who don’t have much.
It wasn’t a public event. I asked my coworkers if they wanted to help assemble the packages, and they were happy to participate. We spent a day putting everything together and will spend a few days handing them out. Six people helped assemble and distribute the care packages. Participants shared that they felt good about giving back to the community and helping others. They liked being able to provide winter supplies and said that people were thankful when receiving the packages. They also enjoyed assembling the bags, choosing the items, and handing them out in a positive way.
Although the original goal was to make 50 care packages, we created 25 bags filled with warm items, food, and personal care supplies. Participants benefited by contributing to a meaningful project, supporting their community, and experiencing the positive impact of helping others.
Carrie Billow- Project Organizer

01/23/2026

Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) Stories:
Sunrise Senior’Choir
Seasonal concert and sing-a-long
Dec 20 2025
The choir’s event was very successful and particularly significant for community connections.
Having the grant support to mount an event provided a much needed validation for the choir and a sense of ongoing community.
Posters were circulated on Facebook and to family/friends and the City announced the concert through their media channels. Given these considerations we were happy that just over fifty people came out, and with the choir this meant about 75 people benefited from the event free of charge.
We practiced more this time with using the individual solo mics beforehand and the increasing comfort with using them really continues to improve the performance quality.
Sharing singing and food and socializing together created a warm sharing and invitation to the season of celebration.
We are, as always, grateful to the Vancouver Foundation and the NSG committee for supporting our initiatives to build community in our neck of the woods.
With warmest wishes for this New Year,
Jude Campbell

01/16/2026

Neighbourhood Small Grant (NSG) Stories:
Event Organizer: Ring Zheng
Event Name: Big Elf Run
Event Theme: Christmas / Holiday Community Run
The 2025 Big Elf Run was a festive, family-friendly community event designed to bring residents together through movement, music, and holiday spirit. The event encouraged physical activity in a fun and inclusive way, while creating a joyful Christmas atmosphere for community members of all ages.
Held in an outdoor park setting, the Big Elf Run featured Christmas-themed music, a group warm-up session, and a non-competitive fun run. The event successfully fostered community connection, participation, and holiday cheer.
Event Introduction
What
A Christmas-themed community fun run with festive music and a group warm-up.
The event was non-competitive and open to participants of all ages and fitness levels.
When
December 13, 2025 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Where
Tynhead Regional Park, Surrey
Who
Community members and families
Runners
Volunteers
Participants of all ages and fitness levels

01/09/2026

Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) Stories:
Project Title: Pathways to Possibility: Empowering Youth Through Post-Secondary Access
Project Lead (NSG Recipient): Sean He
Project Location: Surrey, BC
Event Date: September 20, 2025
Our project was a free, in-person educational workshop designed to support newcomer and first-generation immigrant families in navigating post-secondary pathways in British Columbia.
The workshop aligned with NSG goals by providing a community learning opportunity, supporting newcomer families, strengthening community networks, and ensuring the event remained free and open to residents in Surrey.
Parents expressed relief that they were finally able to understand the opportunities and expectations of BC universities and colleges, noting that they felt included rather than left out of the process.

12/19/2025

The Oak Avenue Neighbourhood Hub office will be closed from December 22 to January 4, 2026.
Happy Holidays!