" So what's cool regarding the backpacks is essentially we see a street person on the street, we'll just quit and also inquire if they would like a Valentine's knapsack," claims co-founder Willow Octera. "And after that we simply give them a backpack. As well as it has a lot of basics that they'll require to just kind of enable them to out through the cool winter season, which is, you recognize, it's pretty amazing. Making that connection with the people.".
In their very first year, they got a lot support, they were able to give away simply under 1,000 bundles. They went to 10 sanctuaries that year. An increasing number of deliveries maintained pouring in, in the mail. Some 800 individuals joined their Facebook group.
" Crescent Park Elementary as well as Woodstock Elementary have several of the teachers have their trainees make up Valentine's cards. As Well As Agnes Gray. Yes. That we put in with our plans. It's simply wonderful to have the instructors sort of bring recognition to the students and then the students with these cards," claims co-founder Deirdre Fournier.
Last year, the 4 in the team integrated managed to go to homeless sanctuaries in Rumford, Norway, Auburn, Lewiston, Portland and then the Maine Veterans Partnership in Rose city all in someday. They wish to most likely to Bangor furthermore as well as Augusta.
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" We cover consulting shelters in advance, see what they require [with] bundles certain to what they require," says Octera. "And then we also have our normal Valentine plan, which is what [we] typically is given out ... However I would certainly claim from now [November] until Valentine's Day, and after that after Christmas, we begin pushing it a little bit more. Yet up until after that people begin [giving away] definitely as quickly as it gets cold. Individuals begin considering it.".
All of this happened when eventually, six years back, Fournier was on Facebook and also saw an article about a man in Australia that was gathering items for the homeless.
" Among the things that he was accumulating was cushions, as well as I assumed was really awesome. As well as it made me consider my mom who passed away four years prior to this; she was making pillowcases and donating them to local hospitals," Fournier explains.
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" After that Willow really re-posted the exact same article. So we wound up connecting up and also simply stating, hi, you recognize, possibly this is something that we can both do with each other. It was too soon to do something for Christmas. So then we sort of both thought, hey, let's flatter Valentine's Day. Which's kind of like how the Valentine's Day job began.".
As they are contributing to homeless sanctuaries, they can just accept new items, per the requirement of the sanctuaries. They are seeking new hats, mittens or gloves, socks, homemade Valentine's, and hand warmers.
If you are collaborating with a homeless sanctuary or connected with one and need items for the winter season, please connect to Fournier and also Octera at deefournier08@gmail.com to let them know what items are needed.
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