One way to make a difference in the lives of less fortunate people this holiday season is by helping Hands of Hope.
The Winnipeg based charity picks up used furniture that’s still in good condition from donors and brings it to families who need the items, at no cost to them.
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“There are many people in need in our community,” Hands of Hope volunteer Charles Norris said while on Global News Morning. “Our vision is to replace poverty with hope by providing a means for the community to care for one another.”
On many days, Hands of Hope receives 100 phone calls from people in desperate need of help.
“There are children sleeping on the floor right now in Winnipeg who don’t have a good bed and they need a good night’s sleep in order to do well at school and eventually get a good job.”
“There are beds available and we can deliver it to them with our fleet of trucks and our vans,” Norris said. “It takes money to do what we’re doing of course, because we have vans to fill with gas and a warehouse to maintain… we need volunteers especially to help repair furniture.”
Norris said the charity has helped more than 60,000 people in the last 15 years in Winnipeg.
“We’re doing it because it’s a compassionate thing to do, especially at this time of year people are thinking of showing love to others,” Norris said.
“We have our own people right in our own community who need help and many of them are children… and also elderly people.”
Norris recalled on experience that highlights the difficult situation some people in Winnipeg are facing.
“One elderly person we knew… she said wanted a bed because the mice running over her at night kept her awake.”
Hands of Hope helps people who have had their homes infested with bed bugs, women escaping abusive relationships, single parents, people who are ill, injured or struggling with mental health.
You can learn more about the charity here.