Keep the Homeless Out of the Streets this Winter One Winter Essential at a Time

Keeping the Homeless Out of the Streets One Winter Essential at a Time

It’s winter in Toronto – and that means temperatures are quickly dropping, and the situation isn’t any better for the city’s less fortunate and most vulnerable. Homeless shelters in Toronto are operating in full capacity and with limited resources that are no match for all the essentials that every person needs to get through the harsh cold.

That’s why at Bargains Group, we don’t just curate Canada’s favorite retail items and gift ideas at bargain prices; we also encourage goodwill for local communities by providing you with a selection of wholesale products you can donate to homeless shelters, especially during the toughest times of the year.

Learn more about how you can share warmth and comfort to those who need it the most:

The First Step: Reach Out

The homeless are all around us – walk out in the street and it’s guaranteed that you’ll cross paths with someone in dire need of food, water, and shelter, but a lot of us are guilty of being so used to seeing men and women of all ages begging for scraps, that we just walk past them without even looking back – and that’s exactly why so many of the less fortunate still live on the streets.

But if we just took the time to acknowledge their existence by checking on them or even calling 911 or local shelters nearby to have them placed indoors and away from the harsh cold, these simple acts of kindness can save their lives. Forget just giving them spare change or your takeout in hand – getting them in touch with a local shelter where their basic needs are provided, their health can be checked, and later placed into educational or livelihood programs can help to keep the homeless off the streets for good.

Thrift Stores are Great, But Donations are Better

Many families living in poverty and off limited incomes shop at thrift stores, but even then, the homeless – who can’t even afford food and shelter – have nothing to spare for deeply discounted winter coats, gloves, hats, and other essentials. And the dilemma doesn’t end there.

Everyone needs clothing items and other essentials in their own size, and specifically matched to their needs, such as for fighting the harsh cold – and what homeless people all over Canada need aren’t any different. Shelters and not-for-profits may receive a lot of donations year-round, but when donating, it’s important to match these with what homeless persons actually need. Just because it’s a piece of clothing you wouldn’t want to be caught wearing doesn’t automatically mean it’s good to donate.

If you want to help the homeless population in local shelters who are in need of winter clothing and other essentials and you are thinking of donating your old clothes to thrift stores, but aren’t exactly sure about what the homeless really need, it’s best to ask first. For bulk donations, wholesale products for shelters are available at retailers like us at Bargains Group. These include supplies such as toiletries and personal hygiene products, as well as winter coats and jackets, thermal wear, hats, gloves, scarves, and more. When you get these supplies from a wholesale retailer, you can trust that the selection will include not just a wide range of sizes, colors, and styles, but also top quality and durable items at a bargain cost.

Time: The Best Gift You Can Give

Homeless shelters don’t just provide beds to sleep on and food, but they also sponsor numerous social outreach initiatives to help those in their care get back on their feet. These initiatives include livelihood programs and skills training workshops, and these require resource persons and mentors like yourself whose talents have helped shape your own little corner of the world.

Even if you don’t have enough supplies to donate to your local shelter, sharing your time and talents can turn out to be a more sustainable way to share what you have with the less fortunate, and even help to equip them with the skills they need so they can find a source of stable income.

Still new to volunteering or still honing your own skills and talents? You can test the waters with our Kits for a Cause Program. Round up your family, friends or coworkers for a day of volunteering to pack donation kits stocked with wholesale products and supplies for shelters in Canada. Plus, as a small reward and encouragement to keep on spreading goodwill, you also get a packed kit you can donate to a not-for-profit whose causes are near and dear to you.

Feeling warm and toasty this winter? Share the feeling with someone in need. Pack a kit to donate to your local shelter with our curated product selection of wholesale winter essentials, and help save a life this season.