Giving Tuesday reaches Lethbridge

LETHBRIDGE-When it comes to the less fortunate in the community, the simplest thing can make the biggest difference.

“No matter how low you’re at it’s still good to feel like you have fresh clothes on, and it gives you that little bit of hope that there’s people out there that care,” says Shawna Pinay. She’s had a relationship with Streets Alive Mission for nearly 10 years, and now takes courses through the ministry and volunteers her time.

“When you’re having a tough time in life, it doesn’t matter if you’re homeless or low, it’s always nice to come here and get what you need,” added Pinay.

Those needs are constant and the Streets Alive Mission is always looking for ways to bring in donations. For the third year in a row, they’re taking part in a type of “retail cleanse” after one of the busiest shopping weekends across the country.

“We have ‘Stack The Stage’, and it’s in connection with “Giving Tuesday” which is an undertaking that started in 2010 in the United States to combat Black Friday and Cyber Monday to get people to give back into their communities,” says Ken Kissick with Streets Alive Mission.

Kissick says those donations go to anyone in the community who needs a helping hand, “These people, they are somebody’s daughter, or someone’s son. They are an uncle or an aunt. They may be a father or a mother, a grandmother or grandfather, they are people, they aren’t just things. They have lives, they had dreams and sometimes those dreams got lost along the way.”

Kissick says in order for clients to hear about what services are available, they need the basics first, “It’s very difficult to talk to someone about recovering their life when they are cold, wet and hungry. If they get the basic needs, they are more willing to listen about other things that can help them.

Stack The Stage will run until 8:00 p.m Tuesday evening.

All clothing and personal items are needed, but no furniture or appliances are accepted.