Spreading neighbourhood goodwill
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On Sunday, March 15, nearly a dozen volunteers showed up for a biweekly Elmwood Unity Walk. In -16 C weather (under -20 C with the windchill), people walked through the community, picked up trash and discarded needles and sharps, and also distributed food, clothes, and hot chocolate to vulnerable members of the community.
Elmwood Unity Walks in their current incarnation began in late 2022, spun off from an earlier effort. For the past year, Ryan Kochie has been co-ordinator.
“The Unity Walk goes around the community, specifically the Elmwood-Chalmers community, whatever is within walking distance of 180 Poplar (Ave., home of the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation),” Kochie said. “We hand out harm reduction, hygiene, warm meals, water, juice, anything that can really help provide for the community.”
Supplied photo
Unity Walk volunteers gather before a recent walk. Community correspondent Dylon Martin is second from left, Unity Walk co-ordinator Ryan Kochie is third from left. Volunteer Dakota is at far right.
Kochie said that since he’s been co-ordinator, a couple of big changes have been made. First, the walks now happen twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays. In addition, Community Helpers Unite provides meals for distribution on the walks, thanks to a new partnership. As well, Unity Walks collaborate with the LaSalle Hotel and walkers also check in on a few houses which are home to in-need residents.
Dakota, a volunteer, found out about the Unity Walks through Facebook and has been attending them for around six months.
“(The walks have) all been really good,” she said. “People in the community are very kind. Everyone is really grateful for the fact we’re out and doing this.”
Kochie said a key aspect of the Unity Walks is being a consistent presence.
“One thing I really liked this winter is that we… had a larger thermos donated to us, so we started doing hot chocolate on every walk. We handed out a dozen cups of hot chocolate every walk. We come across families, we give hot chocolate to the kids, everyone is just super-happy and excited. It’s a good feeling,” he added.
Kochie said Unity Walks usually receives an adequate amount of women’s clothing donations but tends to be undersupplied with men’s clothing.
People muster for the bi-weekly walks at the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation. On Thursdays, the group meets at 6 p.m. and the walk usually runs between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Sundays meet-up time is 12:30 p.m., and the walk runs from 1 to 4 p.m.
People interested in joining the walks or donating items can call 204-557-0156 or email unitywalk@chalmersrenewal.org
Dylon Martin
Elmwood community correspondent
Dylon Martin is a community correspondent for Elmwood.
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Dylon Martin
Elmwood community correspondent
Dylon Martin is a community correspondent for Elmwood.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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