The Equality Project is hoping to make it a merrier Christmas for the project’s 54 friends, by providing them with a turkey and ham dinner on Christmas Day. They are also looking for donations of basic household goods, clothing, footwear, personal hygiene items, and more (but no food), in order to make up gift bags to distribute.
“We’re looking for basic items, and anything people could give would be wonderful,” says Joan Henderson, the Project’s public relations person. Donation boxes have been set up in Cache Creek at Anie’s Pizza, the library, and the Project’s home on Stage Road, and in Ashcroft at Revelations, the WorkBC office, and Irly Bird.
Henderson said that any friend of the Project is invited to the Christmas dinner, which starts at 3 p.m. on the 25th. “Just let them know you’re coming.”
She says that the Project has not yet seen an increase in need with the onset of winter. “It’s almost worse in summer, because some people sleep outside and have nothing. They usually find something inside for winter, and can take frozen meals home.” Still, she notes that many people pay more than half their income for a dwelling-place, which can leave little when it comes to furnishing and outfitting somewhere to live.
To that end, the Project is always on the lookout for items such as furniture, kitchen items, lamps, bedding and towels, and more, that friends can take as needed. “That way they can have the basics if they move into a place.” The Project itself also has a list of items needed at the Stage Road headquarters. A list of items needed can be picked up at any of the donation boxes.
Henderson says that she sees a big difference between this year and last year. “We distributed a wish list to our friends, and some said ‘Nothing’. One man wrote on his wish list ‘Peace on Earth and good will towards man.’ A lot of needs are being taken care of.”
To find out more about The Equality Project, visit them at 1260 Stage Road in Cache Creek, call (250) 457-6485, go to their Facebook page, or e-mail info@theequalityproject.ca.