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Press Release: Project Winter Survival Launches 2013 Campaign

For Immediate Release:

Project Winter Survival Launches 2013 Campaign

Approximately 200 volunteers including Police Chief Bill Blair to assemble
winter survival kits for Toronto’s homeless

(Toronto) January 10, 2013 — Life on the streets is unimaginable at the best of times, but when temperatures reach extreme cold levels and homeless shelters are full and overflowing, what happens then? This Saturday, January 12 from 11 am to 1 pm, Project Winter Survival, a volunteer-based organization that provides kits containing essential winter supplies to the homeless, will host a packing event involving approximately 200 volunteers including Police Chief William Blair.

According to front-line health workers the prognosis for 2013 is very poor. Anne Marie Batten, a street nurse for the homeless says, “We had a record number of homeless deaths in December 2012 and many shelters are full and overflowing. The kits are essential to people living on the street such as those who have pets as a means of emotional support and cannot bring them into shelters, or couples who do not want to be separated. We also use the kits to establish relationships with homeless people that have trust issues such as individuals with mental illnesses and substance abusers.”

From clothing, to food, to personal care items and a sleeping bag, the kits often mean a difference between life and death. On Saturday, January 19 the kits will be picked up from Project Winter Survival headquarters at 890 Caledonia Rd. and distributed through more than 175 front-line agencies.

“We’re very fortunate to have a dedicated team of volunteers and sponsors donate their time to this essential cause,” says Jody Steinhauer, President of The Bargains Group Ltd. and Founder of Project Winter Survival. “Our packing event provides an incredible opportunity for people to start the year off with a good deed. It’s also a great way for companies sponsoring the campaign to promote employee engagement, bond with their staff and get them excited about giving back.”

Last winter, 3,000 survival kits were delivered to homeless people living on Toronto’s streets. This year, Project Winter Survival’s goal is to assemble and distribute 3,000 kits throughout the GTA, and for the very first time in Vancouver with the help of its sponsor Hain-Celestial Canada, at the end of January.

About Project Winter Survival

For the past 14 years, Project Winter Survival and its team of volunteers & donors have assembled and distributed over 15,000 kits. With over 10,000 annual requests from agencies that help the homeless directly, winter survival kits are allocated to over 175 front-line agencies. They include the Salvation Army, Red Cross, Scott Mission, Eva’s Place, Covenant House and other local shelters and outreach drop-in programs throughout the GTA who in turn distribute kits to the most vulnerable people living on the streets.Project Winter Survival is a “Give Back Where You Live” initiative.To learn more and make a donation, please visit Project Winter Survival.

Media Contact:
Lorne Simon
MCPR Group
Tel: 416.785.5037 w, 416.560.6441 c
[email protected]

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