Sudbury’s Shoebox Project for women is well underway
The Shoebox Project was founded in Toronto more than a decade ago and has since grown into a national organization that hands out thousands of shoeboxes to women and girls that are either living in shelters or homeless across the country.
Organizers in Sudbury said this program was put together to bring a smile to women and girls who don’t typically have anything or anyone reaching out to them during the holiday season.
“Often these ladies end up feelings alone, isolated, they might be estranged from their families and the shoebox really just gives them a little bit of a pick up,” said Jeanine Piché, the local co-ordinator for the project.
“It’s a small gesture, it’s a kind gesture and it’s immediate impact.”
Organizers told CTV News that each box is filled with $50 worth of essential and feel-good items for women.The boxes contain a mix of hygiene products, warm clothing like hats and mitts and feel good stuff like candy or make-up. (Molly Frommer/CTV News Northern Ontario)“We have hygiene products, we have hats, mitts, scarves and then of course some feel good stuff too like make-up, or nail polish, lipstick, or maybe even some candy, just something that they wouldn’t normally have,” said Piché.
The shoeboxes will be handed out to around a dozen agencies within the city.
One of them being, the Sudbury Women’s Centre.
“It helps our clients with the basic needs that they need and it’s a little something, especially over the holidays that really helps them out and brightens their days,” said Giulia Carpenter, the executive director of the centre.
“It has those special touches in them, like some of them have little messages on them from the donors.”
Shoebox Project organizers in Sudbury said this year, the need is greater than ever before.
"We’ve gone from 225-250 to 444 have been requested this year. Obviously what we tell all the agencies is that we’ll do the best we can with what we get. If we don’t hit our goal then we either have to reduce the number of boxes that goes to all the agencies or pick and choose between agencies," said Piché.
At this time, the group is asking for help from the community as donations are lower than they had hoped.Organizers in Sudbury want the community to know even the donation of a few items can help. (Molly Frommer/CTV News Northern Ontario)“This year we’re struggling, we really need everybody to reach deep into their pockets,” added Piché.
“I hate asking because I know everybody is struggling this year and I know that everything has gone up but if you can find it in your heart to even donate a few items and we can put the boxes together.”
Piché said that a number of groups and organizations have jumped on board for the first time this year but she said is hoping more help will reach out in order to meet this year's target.
“We’ve actually had a number of companies come forward and have parties and they’ve handed together. Gateway Casino gave us 25 boxes, Girl Guides actually got together and they had a little thing that they did with their girls where they had to budget, shop and then put the shoeboxes together. We also have a school program now so schools can get on board. I’m really hoping that more of the community is going to come through for us this year.”
There are three drop-off locations in Greater Sudbury, Stich & Stone on the Kingsway, Reliable Maintenance Products on Regent Street and Beard’s Coffee Bar and Bakery on Kathleen Street.
The shoeboxes are being collected until Dec. 3.
For more information, to make a donation, or to see how what to see the must-haves for the shoeboxes, click here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.