A Facebook group with many hands is looking to make every month a giving one for the Barrie Food Bank.
Helping Hands for the Homeless Barrie has been providing much-needed items for people in the community who are homeless.
A new campaign by the local group is getting the items most needed, but mainly forgotten, to the local food bank.
Patricia Parker, who is with Helping Hands for the Homeless, says the initiative began when she spoke with people at the Barrie Food Bank and heard about the need for particular items.
“I wanted a way to show our appreciation to the food bank and came up with the idea of having a 'drive' each month for needed items and items that aren't donated very often,” Parker told BarrieToday. “This month, it's toilet paper that is needed and 50 per cent of the toilet paper donated to us will be passed forward to the Barrie Food Bank. We're doing this for the month of November.”
Typically, care packages are put together by Helping Hands for the Homeless members and donations by those in their 169-strong Facebook group, then delivered directly to homeless encampments.
“The food bank always helps us with whatever we need, as do the people in the group on Facebook, so we are very lucky to be able to help as much as we do,” Parker said. “I really wanted to assist the food bank more and with items they most need.”
Parker said the item being sought in December will be feminine hygiene products.
The group has assisted countless people over the last few years, Parker says, but she doesn’t believe she is doing anything overly special.
“Someone called me an angel the other day and I just didn’t feel that at all. This is what we should be doing, helping those who need it,” Parker said. “Not just at this time of year, but all the time, as much as we can.”
To help donate for the monthly campaign or to assist with other donations, email Parker at [email protected] or join the group by clicking here.
