Local seniors sew hand-made blankets for homeless
Julie Chalykoff is one of several community members who are helping those in need this month as Ontarians bear the frigid cold.
Working as an active volunteer for decades, she, along with several seniors from southwestern Ontario began sewing 35 blankets for London’s homeless population.
Chalykoff and her group of friends started making masks last year for students and blankets for people in need.
“We feel so good and the seniors feel so good to give something to the less fortunate,” she said.
The group of volunteers is made up of several friends and people in the community who offered to help, said Chalykoff.
“Because of the pandemic, the seniors really appreciated doing something. I just made some phone calls and some offered, and that’s how it started,” she said.
To make sure the blankets got into the right hands Chalykoff dropped them off at Project Hope’s location. Project Hope is a charity organization that supports individuals experiencing homelessness in the city.
The organization’s donations coordinator Tara Lavoie told CTV News London, “Those blankets could mean the difference between life and death for some of these people...You wouldn’t believe it but there are tons of people sleeping on the streets of our city every night.”
The organization has nearly 100 volunteers, many of whom are out on the street several times a week hoping to make a difference by handing out toiletries, hot meals, blankets and more.
“We just talk to them and see what they need and hope that we have it,” Lavoie said.
Levoie says those looking to help someone in need through Project Hope can drop off a donation at their storage location at 203 Bathurst St.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.