A Fairfield boy who is collecting sleeping bags for VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 homeless is hoping to enlist the help of fellow kindergarteners to distribute them on Christmas Eve.

Five-year-old Tate Parker has collected more than 100 sleeping bags from people across Greater Victoria, surpassing his original goal of 51, in the past two weeks.

LangfordB次元官网网址檚 Canadian Tire store donated 20 brand new sleeping bags to the cause. B次元官网网址淚 thought it was a really great idea, a young kid taking that kind of initiative,B次元官网网址� said general manager Darren Jones. B次元官网网址淚t just shows that someone so small can do such a little thing that encourages other people to step up.B次元官网网址�

The Canadian Tire in View Royal also donated 31 sleeping bags.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e completely shattered our dreams about thinking we can do more than a dozen sleeping bags. ItB次元官网网址檚 turned into something much larger,B次元官网网址� said TateB次元官网网址檚 father Neil. B次元官网网址淭ate said to me, B次元官网网址楧ad, itB次元官网网址檚 cold. When is Christmas EveB次元官网网址�? People have been inspired.B次元官网网址�

Once a week, Tate and his family walk to Beacon Hill Park, where they feed the ducks, explore the park and often encounter people sleeping in tents. Last month the youngster set a goal of collecting 51 sleeping bags (the amount of money he had in his piggy bank) to distribute to people camping in Beacon Hill Park, the tent city on Burdett Avenue and other locations on Christmas Eve.

Since then, the family has received new and gently used sleeping bags, money and messages of support from people across Canada and the U.S. Tate is asking fellow kindergarteners to help distribute the packages, which will include a sleeping bag, a pair of socks and food cards. To donate sleeping bags or to get involved email sleepingbagtate@yahoo.com.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com