The Cowichan Valley Citizen
Published:
Dear Editor:
First, I would like to say that I just moved to
I was reading your paper and noticed the above article submitted by Kerie Evoy of
I have worked on my own personal projects for the Union Gospel Mission in the community where I resided of
What made me decide to take this on was that one day I was returning home from a Company Christmas party at a five star hotel. As I was stopped at a traffic light I just happened to turn to my left and noticed two men laying a sleeping bag out on the cold hard sidewalk and here I was in a warm car all bundled up and suddenly reality hit me and I turned to my husband and said, "I just made my New Year's resolution." I decided to do something positive in my own community to give something back and my goal was to help the homeless citizens.
The first two years I put together 300 Christmas gift bags personally decorated with gift tags and ribbons for the adults and children. The adult bags each contained brand new socks, toques and gloves and the children' had the same items plus toys and books. At the annual Christmas dinner I would hand each person a gift bag at the end of the meal and wish them each a Merry Christmas. On the third year I prepared five huge platters of all kinds of chocolates.
It was no easy task and each project took me 14 months to complete. I set up meetings with my local MLA, sent e-mails to the Mayor and Council, retailers, newspapers, the Prime Minister and Premier's office, the Housing Minister's office and the list goes on. I had never undertaken a project like this before and yes it was very hard work as my husband was dying from lung cancer and I was working full-time but I was so motivated and it just had to be done so I "just did it". Before my husband died, he made me promise to continue with my project and I have and always will.
In regards to Margaret Hudson's letter "Welfare state ruining society," maybe she should make a trip to her local mission and see where these less fortunate citizens eat their meals, get their toiletries and counselling and see the condition of those facilities. I wonder how she would like to have her Christmas dinner in that environment?
To all the people who work with the less fortunate a big kudos to you all as you are all very special and show true compassion and may society learn something from you.
I have taken food and toiletries to citizens living on the street and all of them have always smiled and thanked me. One woman even had the
When I think of those words, I still cry and will never forget them.
To Margaret Hudson, I would like to send you a link to the following video http://www.dashpoemmovie.com/
May I make a suggestion that you spend a few minutes listening to it and paying close attention to the words.
Life is all about how we treat one another and the day society loses its capacity to show compassion and understanding will be a very sad day indeed.
To Kerie Evoy, I truly thank you for telling it like it is. You are the kind of individual I would love to do a homeless project with.
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