Organization keeping London's homeless warm needs help
A London organization designed to help keep kids and the broader homeless population warm is looking for more support.
Keeping Kids Warm provides mitts, scarves and hats to those in need in a unique way.
On Wednesday, volunteer Ken Laurin explained to CTV News London the methods at Boyle Park in London’s Old East Village.
“What we do is we put them in [clear] bags to keep them from the elements and hang them here so that anybody who needs a hat or a pair of mitts to keep warm, they can come and take what they need,” said Laurin.
He also says the bags give a person experiencing homelessness the opportunity to accept a gift they might decline in person. The winter-wear items are placed in many areas throughout the Forest City.
Laurin joined Keeping Kids Warm five years ago after meeting Londoner Donna Atkinson-Wilson.
She founded the organization after an appearance of CTV London's former morning show, ‘New Day.’
“By the time I got home, I had received so many messages of help and support,” said Atkinson-Wilson.
Ken Laurin, a volunteer with Keeping Kids Warm, is seen at London’s Boyle Park, Jan. 26, 2022. (Sean Irvine / CTV London)The support elated her as was recovering from depression. With the support, she received a new charity was born and has since helped thousands of people.
“I figure we’ve given out over 20,000 items, handmade items,” she said.
But, there is more than yarn to this charity, “It’s more than mitts,” Atkinson-Wilson contends.
She believes in some ways, the items lift the mental health of recipients.
“Even to just know someone cares about them is what my message is.”
But as she and her volunteers spread their warming items around, they have also gotten to know London’s growing homeless population, especially the young.
But with successful connections comes some painful losses among the faces they meet.
“We lost four kids last year, all teenagers, four in a week,” said Atkinson-Wilson.
As she points out Bell Let’s Talk Day, she reminds us all to keep an open mind about the young in need.
Some of them have issues, mental health issues, drug issues, but they are kids, they’re kids! I would never, ever, see a child struggle if I could help them.”
Keeping Kids Warm is looking for more knitters and item distributors. If you can help, Atkinson-Wilson asks that you visit their Facebook page.
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.