(EASTER SUNDAY) April 21, 2019
I want to begin by saying that Beau and I wish everyone a Happy Easter and a wonderful long weekend.
We also want to say a big thank you to all of you who have kindly given Project Dignity such great donations!
Stephanie, Sue, Brian, Scott, Kat, Kelly, and others. It is thanks to you guys, that we were able to fill 22 Project Dignity bags, with clothing of all sizes!
We filled each bag with either a pair of pants and shirt combination or with a few different shirts and/or hoodie. We made sure that each bag was discretely labeled with the sizes contained within. We also added a few toiletries to as many bags as we could. We had five pairs of running shoes (3 men’s sizes 9 and women’s size 8 and 9), as well as two donated pairs of size 9 workboots, and 5 pairs of work pants.
We put aside a pair of work boots, a pair of work pants, 2 shirts, 2 pairs of socks, and a tool belt for Gino. We also still had the steel-framed backpack that was originally meant for Julien! We decided that since 4 weeks had already passed without seeing him again, we would pass it on to another deserving person tomorrow.
We decided we wanted to do something special for Easter. we went to Dollarama and bought a bunch of Easter chocolates and some small colorful bags, so we could divide the chocolate up evenly. We also bought a lovely, large Easter basket at the local Goodwill store, and filled it with the 42 “Easter treat” bags we had made.
We also planned on making about 70 cups of coffee in the urn tomorrow morning, to bring with us on our 5th outreach. We started our Easter Sunday with tea, coffee, hard boiled eggs and toast to fuel our Outreach # 5.
It was noticeably warmer than the last time we had been out two weeks prior. We arrived downtown at about 11:00 AM and set up in the same ideal location, near the Salvation Army, like last time. We set up our table, brought out all the filled Project Dignity bags, a big bottle of hand sanitizer, coffee urn, sugar, cream, milk, stir sticks, cups, and a basket of Easter chocolates.
We recognized a number of smiling faces, who in turn recognized us as well. Beau took some time out for a few photos with some of our new friends before we started handing out the Easter treats and bags of clothing. The beauty of the coffee urn is that everyone can help themselves to their own coffee and make it exactly as they like it! Everyone was genuinely happy and grateful for the coffee, and especially the Easter treats. I mean, who doesn’t like chocolate, right?!
In just a short time all of the bags had been given away and the coffee urn was completely empty.
Beau gave the filled, steel framed backpack to a nice young man named Jordan (Jo), whom we have had the pleasure of chatting with, each time we have been out on an outreach mission. He has really been making an effort to get his life back on track and hopes to be off the streets real soon.
One of the men’s runners were given to a gentleman named James, who told us that the old pair of boots he was wearing really hurt his feet! After trying on the running shoes, he kept thanking us, saying that now it felt like he was walking on cushions! This just warms our hearts so much, when you see the immediate positive effects that just a little act of kindness and generosity can bring!
As it was coming to the end of our time with these fellows, we finally saw Gino walking towards us with a big smile on his face. We mentioned that we had a bag specifically for him, just like we had promised, and fetched it from the car to give to him. Gino has the opportunity to work construction and was extremely pleased that we had remembered him!
Once we had packed everything away and packed the table into the vehicle, we lingered on for a little while and continued having an engaging chat with Gino and Dean about all kinds of interesting topics. While driving away, I thought to myself that Easter Sunday could not have turned out more perfectly!
Thank you again, everyone, for any and all donations. It is so much appreciated!
