Bradford's 'Great Canadian Gift Box' working to help the homeless this holiday season
A group of volunteers in the Bradford area are working to make sure none of Simcoe County's homeless are forgotten about this holiday season.
The Great Canadian Gift Box is a local charitable effort started back in 2018 to provide essentials for the less fortunate. With the rising cost of living, the group works to help those struggling to make ends meet.
"It's not only the homeless that are on the street, but I mentioned the invisible homeless, which are people that are couch surfing, they are living month to month not sure if they can make rent the next month and are about to be evicted," says Jenny DiPietro, one of the founding members. "So it's not just the people you see on the street; there's a whole other group of people who are often left out."
On Sunday, DiPietro enlisted the help of some of her son's baseball teammates to help package nearly 200 gift bags for the homeless.
"Through our endeavours, we've been able to gather community donations, so we've gotten 1000 pairs of socks, we have people giving us bulk donations of sanitary napkins; dentists from the area have given us toothbrushes and toothpaste, and all of these things need to be put in bags and wrapped nicely for gifts for the homeless," DiPietro tells CTV News.
The group hopes to grow in size and get a registered charity number by the summer, enabling them to work more closely with local schools.
If you'd like more information on the initiative, you can email thegcg@gmail.com or find them on social media.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.