Backpack donations sought for homeless survival kits

For the ninth year in a row, the founder and president of The Bargains Group Ltd. on Caledonia Road has headed the purchasing and distribution of kits for Project Winter Survival, which assists the city's homeless with warmth and essential supplies during winter months.

Project Winter Survival works with some 90 agencies, including The Red Cross, Salvation Army and local homeless shelters to distribute the kits every January.

"The numbers are escalating like crazy for people in need," Steinhauer said. "Seven thousand kits were requested this year and we projected that. Last year we put together 1,925 kits and this year we set a higher goal of 2,500."

Steinhauer was able to get most of the 33 items in the kits from her company's warehouse or through corporate contacts, but backpack donations have been low this year, she said.

"Our biggest challenge is backpacks," she said. "Donations are way down. Companies don't have extra stock and it's been a much larger struggle for us. We raise cash to supply the items we don't get and sleeping bags and backpacks are things we have to purchase. We desperately need cash donations."

Steinhauer noted a cash donation of $25 will provide one kit valued at $150. The Salvation Army will issue tax receipts for donations of at least $25.

The call for donations goes out just after Labour Day to friends, suppliers and customers, Steinhauer said, adding the goal is to take Project Winter Survival to a national level.

"We've been asked to do this in every major city," she said. "Maybe next year."

In the past nine years, Project Winter Survival has assembled and distributed more than 10,000 kits to Greater Toronto Area agencies.

To donate visit http://projectwintersurvival.org