ThereB次元官网网址檚 an assembly line set up on the kitchen table of the St. Pierre house in Colwood.
Mom Suzanne, along with daughters Kylie and Amanda, is busily squeezing tubes of coloured icing onto gingerbread cookies of various shapes and sizes. Third daughter, Shayna, pops in with baby niece Nevaya, AmandaB次元官网网址檚 daughter, to do a quick tasting run.
The home workshop is part of the building process for this familyB次元官网网址檚 special Christmas tradition: going out on SuzanneB次元官网网址檚 birthday, Dec. 21, and delivering care packages to homeless individuals who are trying to stay warm and dry at this time of year on the streets of Victoria.
B次元官网网址淵ou see somebody sitting in a doorway and itB次元官网网址檚 obvious theyB次元官网网址檙e camping there for the night,B次元官网网址� Suzanne says. B次元官网网址淵ou just walk up and ask them if theyB次元官网网址檇 like a gift bag. We usually end up at Our Place and they get whatever we donB次元官网网址檛 give out.B次元官网网址�
The packages include everything from socks and gloves to toiletries, sandwiches and other edible treats. Many of the non-food items are donated by local merchants, including the Westin Bear Mountain Resort, Holiday Inn Express Colwood, and Sheraton Four Points Victoria. Superstore, CobB次元官网网址檚 Bread and Sysco Foods, among others, have provided food products.
The evolution of the birthday charity run started when Kylie, a 2015 Belmont graduate, was at Dunsmuir middle school, Suzanne says. A teacher there would organize a similar project and invite any kids and parents who wanted to volunteer to help out. B次元官网网址淲e walked around downtown and gave what we could to the homeless and let them tell their story. We did that two or three times a year.B次元官网网址�
The birthday project, now in its second year, is B次元官网网址渧ery rewardingB次元官网网址� and has become bigger than they expected, she adds. B次元官网网址淚 just thought, my birthday is so close to Christmas and weB次元官网网址檝e just doled out stupid amounts of money (for gifts), so we give out a bunch of things.B次元官网网址�
Kylie is so convinced of the value of this project that she asked the family to do a similar run on her birthday in May.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not going to lie, I probably cry every time we do this,B次元官网网址� she says of the giving. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e so grateful. It makes you feel so good.B次元官网网址�
Amanda, a culinary expert who adds a few personal touches to the food part of the care packages, says providing edibles for people with no way of cooking things is important.
She, like each of the siblings, has friends whoB次元官网网址檝e latched on to this grassroots program. They gather at the house to help make sandwiches, for example, or head out to the streets to help with the distribution.
B次元官网网址淥nce when we were out a homeless man asked for a belt,B次元官网网址� she recalls. B次元官网网址淢y friend Cody literally took his belt off and gave it to him. He didnB次元官网网址檛 want to take it at first, but Cody insisted and said heB次元官网网址檚 got another at home.B次元官网网址�
The sisters agree that going out and connecting with people living hand to mouth on the street is a humbling experience and reminds them how fortunate they are to have a place to live and regular meals.
Suzanne appreciates the opportunity to share the experience with her kids.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e seen them learn compassion, empathy, caring,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淜ids have to really see you be involved and care about stuff like that, or they wonB次元官网网址檛 get it. You can say one thing to your kids, but if you behave in a different way they follow your lead.B次元官网网址�
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
How you can help:
ThereB次元官网网址檚 still time to donate items or sign up to help Suzanne St. Pierre and familyB次元官网网址檚 Dec. 21 care package delivery to homeless folks living on the streets of Victoria.
Among the items in demand for the bags are gloves, socks, toques, sleeping bags and umbrellas. To get in touch and arrange a drop-off time, send her an email to dst6892@telus.net or call 250-896-5764.
Asked if there other ways to help the homeless, St. Pierre suggested volunteering at organizations such as Our Place or the Victoria Cool-Aid Society.
