Driven to make an impact

East Winnipeg

West Winnipeg

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This article was published 26/07/2023 (1017 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A group of Winnipeg youth with the drive to help out in their local communities are making inroads as their initiative continues to gain traction.

Described as a “completely self-constructed” endeavour, the Winnipeg Community Drive and Cleanup Series is a grassroots initiative that takes place during the most clement months of the year.

Once a month, a team of volunteers comes together to put up hundreds of flyers in a different neighbourhood of the city and collect donations from area residents for charitable organizations. Alternating with the community drive schedule, every two weeks, the youngsters collect litter in a different area of the city.

The series is a former recipient of a #RisingYouth Grant, a program funded by the federal government that recognizes youth leadership and service. Founded in 2021 by Bridgwater Trails resident Shiven Srivastava, the first Winnipeg Community Drive and Cleanup Series ran from August to October of that year, and has continued to gain momentum. It ran between April and September in 2022, and started again in June this year. As the series has expanded, its volunteer base has grown to more than 80 people in less than two years, with up to 20 of those attending each event. The team typically visits 300 to 500 homes per community drive.

Srivastava, a Vincent Massey Collegiate alumnus who recently finished his first year of studies at the University of Toronto, said he created the series because he realized there was a lack of volunteer opportunities for young people, not least because many organizations had to suspend or modify operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Srivastava — who recently turned 19 — also realized that “under-serviced members of the Winnipeg community were facing disproportionate economic impacts of COVID-19.

“Whether it was homeless shelters or food banks, I started thinking about ways we can help,” Srivastava said.

After putting up flyers in the respective communities, the team returns four or five days later to gratefully collect any donations people can make, giving potential donors time to gather items to donate, if they so desire.

“We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response. People are always giving their support, even if it’s just positive words of affirmation at the very least, and many people are curious how the series began,” Srivastava said.

So far, the initiative has supported organizations such as Siloam Mission, Harvest Manitoba, the West Central Women’s Resource Centre, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg.

The first community drive in 2021 was held in River Park South, and an upcoming one will be held in Sage Creek in August. (At deadline, the date had yet to be confirmed.)

Srivastava said one of the best things about the initiative is that it demonstrates the passion, commitment and engagement of many youth.

“I love for the spotlight to be shone on young people, and this way they don’t have to hang around waiting for opportunities. I think young volunteer have the engines and mechanisms to operate an initiative like this and thrive.”

The series has already had five primary leaders and is in the process of promoting three more to the role.

For more information, email Srivastava at shiven428@gmail.com