During the first weeks of 2020, I had been scrolling through Facebook and saw a post concerning homelessness. I was surprised to read that one of the most requested items that shelters needed were SOCKS. I, like so many others, had never even considered this. What a small yet so important article of clothing that could easily be collected and donated.
And so, with an idea in mind and a plan starting to take form, an MWCN Sock-Drive was in the works. In early March of 2020, Flyers were made, emails were sent, and containers for socks were purchased. And then Covid became a reality, and everything came to a halt. Lockdown! Life changed for everyone, isolation became a factor, and I could only imagine how shelters were dealing with a pandemic with so many people in need of their services.
Skip forward to this present day, everyone is doing a little better, friends & families have gathered, and fear of the unknown has subsided due to the majority of the public having been vaccinated. However, all of this had not changed the fact that everyone needs a safe place to rest their head. The need for shelters had not changed. And so, with more determination than ever, our sock-drive was given a new life.
With Lester B Pearson School Board being one of our many partners, I had the pleasure of connecting and setting up our sock drive with Edgewater, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, and Soulanges elementary schools. We even had a local Daycare jump on board – Garderie Les Minis Courtois. MWCN Pincourt office was also able to collect sock donations during our open house on November 10th.
I am thrilled to announce that with the help of our office assistant, Annum Siddiqui we were able to collect 958 pairs of socks!
On November 30th, 8 loads of socks were delivered to Mr. John Gladu, General Director of l’Aiguillage in Vaudreuil-Dorion with the help of our faithful volunteer, Dennis Roberts. What a generous community and such a rewarding experience for everyone involved.
A heartwarming THANK YOU goes to Shirley Ann Lapitsky, Suzanne Gionet, Marie-Helene Townshend, Melissa Alary, and all the students, parents and neighbors who generously donated throughout the month of November.
It is so important to assist those who are less fortunate than others due to unforeseen circumstances.
And if there is anything you take away from this initiative, it’s this: A few dollars donated by an entire community certainly goes a long way, but in fact, “It costs zero dollars to be a decent human being”.
Wishing everyone the happiest of Holiday Seasons!
Lorie Marcotte
Coordinator of Community
Development Vaudreuil-Soulanges
www.mwcn.ca
