There was no shortage of holiday spirit at Birchmount Community Centre on Wednesday as dozens of people gathered to pack boxes of personal hygiene and household cleaning products to help people in our community who live below the poverty line.
Entire families were on hand to assemble packages for participants in the Share 365 program, a year-round initiative by Birchmount Bluffs Neighbourhood Centre (BBNC) that supports about 250 local families including 400 children.
Each box was tailored to suit individual families and included things such as diapers, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, tampons, sanitary pads, and vinegar for cleaning.
Dean McKinnon, Stephanie Rullo, Charlie and Bennett packing boxes.
One of the volunteers packing boxes was Dean McKinnon, who said he grew up at the community centre, attending summer camps and other programs.
“I find that this is a great opportunity for me to give back to the community centre and some of the things that are provided for the Birchmount/Danforth community,” McKinnon said. “And because I have a family of my own I can’t imagine that someone would go through the Christmas season and not have some of the very basic amenities that we need to survive.”
McKinnon was filling boxes with his partner, Stephanie Rullo, and her two children Charlie and Bennett, who are being taught the importance of sharing.
“It’s important to know that Christmas isn’t just about getting toys and getting it’s about giving back and helping people who we know and people that we don’t. This is one thing that we do as a family tradition,” Rullo said.
After packing boxes of personal products, the many children on hand were encouraged to visit a separate room filled with toys and choose something special for somebody of their own age and gender.
“It makes me feel good because I get to help them in a way and give them food and supplies they need,” said 8-year old Cleia Vayenas.
Riley Hayes, 8, with the gifts she selected for girls her own age.
Good Food Box.
Participants in Share 365 will also be getting an extra large Good Food Box this month. It’s all part of a poverty reduction campaign that evolved from the Share Christmas hamper program that many Birch Cliff residents supported until it was discontinued in 2015.
Linda Curley, BBNC’s Manager, Community Engagement, said the program was revised because families living in poverty need help all year and not just at Christmas.
“The average participant has about seven to 15 dollars a day for food transportation and clothing,” Curley said. So, they take the TTC anywhere and they’re done for the day. As far as everything else, basic necessities are a priority. Imagine being a mom of three teenage daughters and you’re in the grocery store and your choices have some tampons or food. Food wins out every time.”
Scarborough Southwest MPP Doly Begum.
Scarborough Southwest MPP Doly Begum was helping to pack boxes and was clearly moved by the experience, declining to speak to Birch Cliff News about this “amazing initiative” until her work was done.
“One of the greatest things about this program that I learned was that they don’t call it giving. It’s sharing, which I found was so touching because my parents used to teach me when I was little… they used to say when you give with your right hand make sure your left hand doesn’t know.”
Begum said it breaks her heart, especially during the holidays when people are celebrating, that pockets of Scarborough Southwest have the highest child poverty rates in Ontario.
How to donate
SHARE365 is a volunteer-run program that does not receive funding from grants or foundations but relies on donations from the community and individuals within businesses.
You can go to this website and click on the Donate Now button to make a one-time contribution or contribute monthly. In the message box make sure you specify that the funds are for the SHARE365 program.
You can mail a cheque (or post-dated cheques) or you can drop them off at BBNC.
In-kind donations of household cleaning products and personal care items can also be dropped off at the following address:
Birchmount Bluffs Neighbourhood Centre,
93 Birchmount Road (at Kingston Rd.)
Toronto, Ontario, M1N 3J7.
