Sleeping Bags for the Homeless in its eighth year

For seven years, Vilna Off-Campus Achievement Academy has been collecting sleeping bags and other winter clothing items with the purpose of directly distributing these items to the homeless population in the downtown core of Edmonton, usually around Christmas time. They have donated approximately 250 sleeping bags and around two pick-up truck boxes full of other winter clothing items.

For those of you who have never heard of this initiative, it is now in its eighth year and it was not carried out last year due to the many restrictions arising from the COVID pandemic. They are back on track and once again collaborating with the Hope Mission, which they have used as a hub for many of the donations, due to their impeccable reputation and logistical reasons.

It often occurs to me that these charitable endeavors don’t really solve the issues of the homelessness or for that matter even make a lasting difference in the lives of these less fortunate souls, but I try to remember the looks on their faces, the myriad of hugs I receive, and of course, the many words of gratitude that are offered which invariably serve to remind me why I do this year after year. To that end I would like to share a short anecdote from around four years ago. Please bear with me as I tell you the story.

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I was passing out sleeping bags in line at Hope Mission; one of the recipients was in a wheelchair and he was obviously struggling with many things, many of which most of us would not be able to imagine.  I put the sleeping bag in his lap and he looked up and gave me a smile so warm, it would have melted the heart of the most callous of individuals.  

I told him “I’m sorry I can’t do more for you than give you a measly sleeping bag.”  I was visibly upset at the time and I could not hide it for all of my efforts.

He looked up at me again and his exact words were, “You are giving me hope brother!” 

At that point, my eyes welled up with tears and I turned away from him because I was simply a mess.  At that point another patron of the streets grabbed me from the side and pulled me towards him to give me a very heartfelt embrace.  He looked right into my eyes and then he asked me:

“Are you ok? What you are doing for us is awesome and thank you so much!”

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That didn’t help the tears any but it put things into perspective for me, which I greatly needed at the time. 

I realize that we’re not fixing the problem so to speak but the love that we provide to the less fortunate, offers them something in abundance, something they often don’t have a lot of, and that is hope.  

So on that note, I would like to close by saying thank you to those who choose to assist me with this endeavor.  

If you wish to get involved, you can send monetary donations by cheque (made out to Vilna School) to Vilna School at Box 190, Vilna, Alberta T0A 3L0 or if you wish to donate in another way such as cash or e-transfer, you can contact me at 780 636 3062 or by email nav.atwal@aspenview.org or by calling my cell number which is 780 614 1657.

Of course I can also be contacted to arrange a meeting or to drop off any items that you wish to donate.

Once again I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to anyone getting involved in this annual initiative.  

 

-Nav Atwal, Vilna School