Moncton group fills Christmas stockings for the homeless

A group in Moncton called Full Belly’s is filling up Christmas stockings for people in need this Christmas.

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“The homeless, they don’t get a Christmas,” said Natalie Noel who started Full Belly’s three years ago by giving out food boxes to people in need. “I thought it would be a good idea just to fill stocking with things they need.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The homeless, they don't get a Christmas," said Natalie Noel who started Full Belly's three years ago by giving out food boxes to people in need. "I thought it would be a good idea just to fill stocking with things they need."

This year, Noel and her team of volunteer elves are filling stockings with hats, mitts, scarves and life’s necessities like shampoos and conditioners.

She said the stockings will then be handed out to people who eat at the Humanity Project’s soup kitchen in Moncton and to people living on the streets on Christmas Eve.

“Every year you see that on the street just people sitting there trying to keep warm and it’s like it would be nice to go out there and give them a stocking filled with nice things and treats and stuff and show compassion and kindness for others,” said Noel.

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Participating in the program is personal for at least one of the volunteer elves.

Ashley Perry was homeless for a few months this past summer. She said it’s time for her to give back to the very people, like Noel, who helped her get off the streets

“That someone would care enough to bring you something when you are on the streets, it means a lot,” said Perry.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "That someone would care enough to bring you something when you are on the streets, it means a lot," said Perry.

Noel hopes to hand out at least 200 stockings and continues to accept donations through their Facebook group.

“We could use some warm items like lined splash pants thermoses to keep hot liquids,” Noel said.

She said Full Belly’s is all about giving to others who are struggling

“They don’t get presents at Christmas. They don’t even have a home.”