Freezing temperatures and icy roads are a part of winter life in Southern Alberta. But for the homeless population, a harsh winter means a constant fight for survival.
One Lethbridge man is working hard to give them a fighting chance.
Ken Kissick is the director Streets Alive, an organization which helps by providing warm clothes, food, and a cup of coffee to those in need. As temperatures drop, Kissick and his staff are running very low on winter clothes. They have plenty of summer attire but desperately need something better suited to the elements.
“We do have a number of coats here, but you’re going to need to layer up and take a couple of coats and a sweater to be able to handle the minus twenty five. We don’t have any winter parkas.”
Sonny Bullshields says Kissick and Streets Alive is a lifeline.
“When I’ve run out of food and I’ve already used the food bank, I know I have a backup here.”
The Lethbridge shelter and resource centre has seen a steady increase in users over the past couple weeks. Collette Ryostock manages the centre and believes the cold weather is pushing people inside.
“It has been busy,” says Collette Ryostock, who manages the centre. “People are coming in earlier and people are coming in earlier in the evening. we serve supper here around 5:30 and it stays busy right until about ten o’clock in the morning.”
If you want to donate to the shelter, contact them at 403-327-1031.
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