Three Bradford West Gwillimbury moms have started a charity to help local homeless people — and they need your shoeboxes.
Jenny DiPietro, Lisa Michel and Natasha Creighton recently launched The Great Canadian Gift Box to bring awareness to local homelessness and to help people in need.
They are collecting donated shoeboxes filled with items many homeless men, women and teenagers will need to get through the winter, such as hats, mittens, socks, and hygiene products.
Volunteers will gift wrap each shoebox and drop them off at shelters, social worker offices, hospitals, and Ontario Works in December for distribution around Simcoe County.
The trio also plans to organize a second shoebox drive next spring.
“While homelessness may not be visible in Bradford, it exists,” said Michel, a social worker.
“We often forget that homelessness does just not mean people live on the street. We have many people who are not visible, couchsurfing, in shelters or transitional housing. Our hope is to address this issue by reaching out to agencies who provide support on some level to these individuals.”
While the project is not going to completely fix a homeless person’s situation, Michel said it allows people to know their communities care about them.
“It raises awareness for those who are perhaps more fortunate to help those in need, it teaches our children empathy, and it can bring a smile to the face of somebody who is down and out,” she said.
DiPietro had the idea for the charity, which the group is planning to officially register when it has raised the $900 necessary to start the 18-month process, after reading about how it can be more difficult for homeless people north of Toronto.
“The idea is that it’s nice outside, (so people think) homeless people can live outside,” she said.
Looking for a charity to get her entire family involved with, she decided filling and distributing shoeboxes was something her kids could learn from and enjoy.
“I … have four children. We’re middle class. My children are extremely privileged. By doing this, it’ll open up a lot of conversations with my kids (and others) about privilege,” she said.
“To practice it out in the world is important to me, too. Teaching our kids to be socially responsible. Every toothbrush we donate is another toothbrush the shelter doesn’t have to provide.”
The charity is hoping to get 250 packed shoeboxes in time for December.
To help raise money for the charity, it is also working with a local soapmaker to create its own line of soap to sell, said DiPietro.
The reason many people are homeless, said Michel, is due to a lack of support.
“Homelessness is not just having a place to hang your hat. Some struggle with addictions and mental health, some are unable to find sufficient employment to sustain housing. The cost of living is high, while minimum wage is low,” she said.
“So many are just a paycheque away from homelessness, and without adequate support, many find themselves unable to find affordable housing. There are waitlists for rent geared to income housing, which could potentially take years.
“We can't always predict what the future holds for us. Be compassionate, be kind. It is not always so easy to ‘just get a job.’”
HOW TO HELP:
Each shoebox should be geared toward one gender/age group.
Suggested items to include:
Warm hats
Mittens, gloves
Socks
Gift cards for food establishments
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Condoms
Band-AIDs
Female hygiene products
Chapstick
Baby wipes
First Aid kid
Hair elastics, clips
Makeup kit
Hand cream
Sewing kit
Can opener
Rubber bands
Flashlight and batteries
Garbage bags
Duct tape
Underwear
Sunglasses
Blanket
Bus pass
Large Ziploc bags (can be used to hold items, or wear on feet for waterproofing); similar items that can be used for multiple purposes
People can also donate holiday gift wrap and scotch tape.
Do not include:
Food
Anything with alcohol in it, such as mouthwash or hand sanitizer
Where to drop off shoeboxes:
In Bradford:
Kidergy
Switzer-Carty Transportation
Optica Moda
Smoochies Cakery
In Innisfil:
400 Chrysler
In Barrie:
Am Shalom congregation
Barrie Chrysler
Barrie Ford
DG Bevan Insurance Brokers
For more information, check out the Facebook page, @thegcgbox on Instagram, or email [email protected].
