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
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
World's record-breaking hot temperature streak stretches through April
The world just experienced its hottest April on record, extending an 11-month streak in which every month set a temperature record, the European Union's climate change monitoring service said on Wednesday.
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.