Wrapped up for the Holidays campaign helps Prince Albert YWCA

The fifth annual Wrapped up for the Holidays campaign is reporting another successful year thanks to donations made by the community.

Parkland Ambulance, who partnered up with CTV news and Gateway Mall, worked together to accumulate winter items from the public such as boots, mitts, toques, and blankets. Director of Public Affairs Lyle Karasiuk said they’ve even received hand made items.

The items have been donated to the Prince Albert YWCA to support their work and will be distributed to people through their programs at Our House, Homeward Bound and Stepping Stones.

“Through their network of shelters and community groups they’ll be making great use of this I’m sure in the coming weeks and keeping a lot of people warm and safe this winter,” Karasiuk told paNOW.

Donations were made at the Gateway Mall or at the Parkland Ambulance location on 13^th Street.

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“This year we’re really grateful,” he said pointing to the collection. “This is about an average pile of stuff so some years, we’ve had considerably more but this is pretty much about the average,” which he said was about 300 to 350 items each year.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the community was still able to donate in these very different times.

“Their generosity never ceases to amaze me,” he said.

“Certainly, we’ve always had a huge community presence and will continue to maintain a great community presence and anything we can do to support any of our local community groups we’re happy to do so,” Karasiuk added.

Supervisor at the YWCA Stepping Stones shelter Tonya Kleinert called the response amazing.

“We have so many people in need and so it’s really wonderful that our community is willing to give back to them,” Kleinert said. “This is probably the third really big donation that we’ve received this year so between all our programs we’ll be able to divide it up and send it where it’s needed the most.”

Because of the pandemic she said there has been an increased need for these items and they’re full every night housing up to 20 people and have to send people away, adding due to the the community’s generosity they won’t be sent away empty handed without something to keep them warm.

“Mitts are a big one, I don’t know if they get lost on a regular basis but we’re always handing out mitts and toques. Boots are always in need and jackets as well,” she said.

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ian.gustafson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @iangustafson12