New community resource guide for Victoria and Vancouver

The first edition of My Help Book for Victoria and Vancouver is finally completed after two years of research, interviews, edits and updates. 
 
It was a seed of an idea that sprouted from the decades-long work of the publisher/author who has been involved in various capacities with helping organizations in Vancouver and Victoria since 1988: from neighbourhood houses, parenting and home learning groups, to women's groups, mental health, harm reduction, housing, anti-poverty, anti-racism, popular theatre and economic justice causes. In addition, having a big family with both young children and elders, gave ample experience in learning where to find appropriate help when it was needed.
 
Noticing there were many smaller guide books for specific helping topics and some large very detailed guides (the Red Book in Vancouver and the Bridges and Newcomer guides in Victoria), the publisher decided that an all-in-one mini-directory limited to key resources would be a quick and useful publishing project to undertake.  

Having had ample prior experience making practical mini help booklets on various topics for various groups, work began on My Help Book in the fall of 2010 with the idea that it could quickly be completed in a couple of months. However, two months turned into two very long and detail-absorbed years. Finally after hundreds of hours of research, editing, getting feedback and lots of encouragement, and then doing ever more editing, the first edition of My Help Book was born on November 1st 2013. 

One of the goals of small independent publisher 3PennyPublishing.com, is to create low-cost publications on practical topics. Thus the price for My Help Book is $5 and many options for bulk discounts are available. Sponsors will also be sought in order to make some free copies available to non-profit organizations. 

This is the second publication of 3 Penny Publishing. The first publication was a child-written children's book set in various parks in Victoria BC called Billy, Cuddles and Funny Bunny Adventure in Victoria. It is available from the publisher and at the Royal BC Museum gift shop.   

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