Five ways to lend a hand to organizations that help the less fortunate

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This article was published 03/10/2017 (3277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winter is a hungry thing.

For people on the street, it eats up warmth, food, clothing, cleanliness, strength, safety and dignity. For others, it can feel like the door to the street is always open and it’s a constant struggle to keep it shut against the cold.

And winter is coming.

This Thanksgiving season, we invite you to share warmth of all kinds and keep the cold at bay for neighbours in need.

Here are five ways to be thankful in Winnipeg.

1. HIT THE BUTTON

Local charities all accept credit cards, cash and cheques.

“Every dollar donated distributes $20 worth of food and the easiest way to contribute funds is to go to our website and click on the Donate Now button,” says Kate Brenner, executive director at Winnipeg Harvest (1085 Winnipeg Ave., winnipegharvest.org).

“We provide food for 64,000 people through 400 distribution agencies, including food banks, soup kitchens like Siloam Mission, Agape Table, low-income daycares, youth and school programs, meal-share programs and more.”

Deena Brock is the provincial co-ordinator at MAWS (Manitoba Association of Women’s Shelters, www.maws.mb.ca), which oversees shelter facilities in the province. Last year there were more than 12,000 crisis-line calls; 3,147 women and children fleeing violence were housed.

“Money is always good, and it’s helpful if people indicate where they would like it to be used: operating costs, children’s programs or needed supplies,” Brock says.

Agape Table (agapetable.ca) breakfast guests pay $1 for their meal, but if they can’t they are still welcome, every weekday.

“We serve between 300 and 400 guests every day, an increase over last year from 200 to 250,” says general manager Dave Feniuk.

“We have a seniors lunch on Mondays, registered food bank on Tuesdays and a low-cost grocery store that’s open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.”

Taje food, clothing and other personal items to 175 Colony St., or donate money online at the website by clicking the Give button.

Oak Table (www.oaktable.ca) provides a wide range of services, such as respite from extreme weather, hot lunches, an art program, telephone and computer access and much more.

“We realize we have to make it easy for people, so they can donate to us through United Way, the government employees’ All Charities campaign, Canada Helps online and our website,” says Glynis Quinn, executive director of Oak Table.

“We provide a community of compassion and of hope for the underloved in Winnipeg,” Quinn says. “A big part of it is just welcoming people, letting people know they are fine just the way they are.”

2. CART IT

Deliver food right to the door, a bin at a grocery store or to a faith, community or other distribution point.

Women’s shelters accept unopened baby formula and baby food (fresh, not past its best-before date). Check the MAWS website for donation locations.

“Baby wipes, baby bottles, baby toys and sippy cups are helpful, too,” Brock says.

Peanut butter is a treat that Agape Table guests don’t normally get. So you can do a peanut butter drive.

“The reality is that most of our guests are suffering from issues around mental health or addictions, so they need the proteins for their body to break down, and peanut butter is high in protein,” Feniuk says.

Oak Table accepts donations of food and other items at 109 Pulford St., between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

One big expense is napkins.

“We have about 200 people a day and we provide people with a napkin — there’s nothing dignified about giving people a meal without a napkin ——and that can quickly use up a food budget,” Quinn says.

Winnipeg Harvest always lists its top-10 items.

“This is our biggest drive of the year, as we approach Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Brenner says.

3. TAKE UP BOXING

Fill empty shoe boxes with travel-sized toiletries. Box and deliver clean, gently used seasonal (fall and winter) clothing.

Women’s shelters have specific needs, so check the Where Can I Go? button on the MAWS website.

“New socks, underwear and pyjamas are always helpful because women and children often come into the shelter without anything at all,” Brock says.

“We don’t get funding to purchase pads and tampons, shampoo and conditioners and anti-perspirants.”

One urgent necessity for all of the charities is feminine-hygiene products — tampons and sanitary napkins.

“Winnipeg Harvest deals in personal-care needs, including diapers, feminine-hygiene items — things that we would use every day — because these take away from the food budget,” Brenner says.

Feniuk agrees.

“Agape Table is always in need of toiletries like soaps and shampoos, and there is a huge need for feminine-hygiene products,” he says. “And with the cold weather, No. 1 on our list is warm clothes for everyone, and socks are a really big thing since our guests are out in the cold weather for 10 or 12 hours a day.”

Oak Table distributes transit tickets. They also need backpacks.

“We have a very generous donor who purchased 10 or 12 knapsacks last month and they’re gone already,” Quinn says.

“We have found that a homeless person can count on being rolled and robbed about four times a year, and then they come back in with nothing and we need to outfit them again.”

4. BE THE GIFT

Get your boots on the ground, and your heart and hands in the game.

“Volunteers help us sort all the food; there’s no way Winnipeg Harvest could do what we do without them,” says Brenner.

Visit Harvest’s website, call 204-982-3663 or drop in at your local food bank.

“We’re encouraging families to come and volunteer the first week of October from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 6 from 9 (a.m.) to 3 (p.m.), no registration needed,” she says.

Agape Table takes advantage of between 1,500 and 2,000 volunteer hours every month.

“We encourage companies to volunteer as a team-building day, and I challenge everybody that comes in to do a drive for us,” Feniuk says.

“West Broadway really lacks the help it needs when people come to work downtown every day and then just leave us, so it’s an opportunity to give back to the downtown area.”

Contact Russell Mason, Agape Table’s volunteer co-ordinator, at 204-786-2370.

Oak Table needs daytime volunteers. They also have a special request for another service to help their guests feel they are tidy and presentable.

“We are desperate for someone to cut hair,” Quinn says.

Fill out an online form or speak with volunteer co-ordinator Harvey Heather at 204-416-2240.

Volunteers are welcome at women’s shelters.

“If direct volunteerism isn’t possible, you can fundraise with a group,” Brock says.

Check the fundraising guidelines on the website or call 204-430-4346.

5. LOOK. LISTEN. SHARE.

Is someone near you in need of help? Are they afraid? Embarrassed? Unaware help is available? Reach out. Ask gently. Listen.

“If you think someone is struggling with domestic violence, you can invite a conversation and encourage them to call the crisis line at 1-877-977-0007 — it’s completely confidential,” says Brock.

For food bank assistance, everyone registers through Winnipeg Harvest.

“Our volunteer-run call centre handles 400 to 800 calls a day, and whether clients are new or returning, we’ll get them set up with emergency food and a food bank close to where they live,” says Brenner.

Share online with your social network: Follow these organizations on Twitter and promote and participate in charitable activities.

Agape Table has a Thanksgiving feast Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

“Local dignitaries, MLAs and ministers are coming out to serve, and we always need frozen vegetables, hams, potatoes — anything and everything helps,” says Feniuk.

Oak Table is celebrating 38 years with a luncheon on Oct. 13. Tickets are $30, and include a $20 tax receipt. They also have a table at the Oct. 21 craft sale at Fort Garry United Church at 800 Point Rd.

Twitter: @WendyKinginWpg