WATCH: Joshua Smith’s mom Traci talks to Aaron McArthur about the work that went into giving 500 people meals in one night.
A 7-year-old from Burnaby spent Christmas Eve giving 500 care packages to homeless people on the Downtown Eastside.
“We feed them with bag lunches and we put treats in them with fruits and vegetables,” says Joshua Smith, eagerly listing off what’s in the care packs he helped to organize. “This time we put in a blanket, nail clippers and some hair conditioner. A toothbrush, some tooth paste, and a couple other things.”
Joshua began organizing Christmas meals for those less fortunate two years ago, according to his mother Traci.
“We were coming home from the Rogers Day parade, and he saw a man sleeping on the street. He asked why he was sleeping on the street, and I had to tell him it was because he didn’t have a home,” said Traci.
Joshua also asked if Santa would be visiting the man. When Traci told him he was too busy tending to children, he said “That’s not fair, what are we going to do about it?”
“And here we are today,” says Traci.
What was 150 meals in 2012 became 350 in 2013, and became 500 care packages this year. As the endeavor has grown, so has the support from the community. Over $7,000 was raised through an online fundraiser, and Traci says a number of companies have offered deep discounts as well.
“We hope to keep doing it, expanding to include shelters, marginalized children. The sky’s the limit.”
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