A pair of Flin Flonners are hoping to make the holidays less fraught for those in need.
Janice Cassidy and Nancy Collacott have started distributing clothing and winter accessories to people without proper seasonal gear. Earlier this winter, Collacott put a call out for donations from friends online and quickly received several items, ranging from light coats to parkas and heavy winter boots and mittens.
For at least the weeks leading up to Christmas, Collacott and Cassidy plan on driving around the area, locating people who appear to be underdressed, homeless or hungry and providing them with goods if their initial worries turn out to be right.
“We have sweaters, we have socks, we have gloves, we have mitts, we have scarves. We’ll go and drive around - no particular spots, no particular day, and if we see someone who needs a coat, we’ll give it to them,” said Collacott.
According to data from a 2011 Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network study on homelessness in Flin Flon, the city has a higher than average population of homeless people - at any given point, that number would be around 100 people, including people living in vehicles, couch surfing or staying at the Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre hostel. Many of the people considered homeless are Indigenous. Addictions, mental health issues and trauma were noted as being “significantly present in almost all cases” of homeless people in the community, according to the study.
“I can’t just drive by people who I know haven’t eaten or are freezing,” added Cassidy.
“I understand that some people who may be high or drinking or stealing, getting into trouble, but you know what - these are somebody’s children.”
“It’s pretty sad when people have to be taken to the cop shop just so they have some place to sleep. They need a place to sleep,” said Collacott.
“We’ll go for a drive - go out to Denare Beach or to Creighton. If we see or notice somebody who we know needs something - if they need boots, we stop, we ask, we’ll give them boots. If someone’s walking home from school and maybe doesn’t have a scarf in minus-27, we have everything and anything to keep you warm.”
The plan for distributing clothing includes accommodations for COVID-19 and providing contact information for community groups that could assist impoverished people.
“We want to give our numbers out. If somebody needs a jacket, we can put it there. We don’t say anything else, we don’t do anything. We socially distance and everything, we’ll bag everything before giving it to anybody,” Collacott said.
While the pair are focusing on providing warm clothing, they plan on expanding their goals if the public is supportive. The two hope to work with poverty assistance groups, including the Friendship Centre, Salvation Army and the Lord’s Bounty Food Bank, to provide help if needed. Collacott said she is researching how to apply for grant funding to possibly open or create a permanent all-season shelter for homeless people and is hoping to provide lunches to hungry people.
“After the new year, we’re going to start doing some research and hopefully do something for us to have a shelter,” she said.
“I’ve been given some different leads to go through to try to get funding from the governments and I’ll go from there. I will write letters until they come out of my rear end, but I am going to do what I can.”
Cassidy asked for support from the public, including donations of winter items, to help people who may be living rough keep winter at bay.
“We’re asking for positivity, for feedback. If this doesn’t work out… I’d put up a tent if I had to for people who are freezing,” she said.
Donations can be organized through Collacott's Facebook page.
