'You don't know their story:' Students hold supplies drive for homeless

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A group of Riverview High School students are collecting supplies to help people in Moncton experiencing homelessness.

Seven Grade 9 students are working with the YMCA Community Action Network to organize a clothing and supplies drive in their school, to gather items that will be distributed to homeless people living in Metro Moncton.

Brianna Roy, the YMCA Community Action Network co-ordinator, said she started working with the students in early October.

“We came together, we decided what we were passionate about and we went from there,” Roy said, adding that helping the homeless community was what the students were most interested in.

Lola Morgan, one of the students, said she got involved through the advice of a school counsellor. She wanted to help those in situations of homelessness because she feels the situation is complex and misunderstood.

“You don’t know their story. They’re often judged a lot,” she said.

Chloe Davis, another student in the cohort, said her family taught her to see the perspective of others, which has helped her in the YCAN project.

The group contacted frontline organizations working with people experiencing homelessness to see what items were most needed, and began collecting supplies in mid-December. They are looking to gather new, unused adult underwear in small and medium sizes, winter gear like coats, hats, boots, sweaters, mittens, scarves and mylar blankets, as well as hygiene products.

Roy said they are also collecting “big ticket items” such as tents, sleeping bags, tarps and sleeping mats.

After gathering donated milk bags the students started weaving sleeping mats because one of the partner organizations had told them the milk bags are waterproof and resistant to bacteria.

YMCA ReConnect, Ensemble Moncton, and St. George’s Anglican Church are a few of the organizations that will be taking their donations.

Tanya Thibeau, a school counsellor at Riverview High, said she has been encouraging the students they can make a difference, even on a topic as large as homelessness. Several students had mentioned they knew people who had experienced homelessness.

“They are actually solving it a little bit at a time. I think they’re incredible for doing that,” she said. “I’m in awe by these students.”

The deadline for donations finishes on Jan. 18. Items can be dropped off at Riverview High during school hours 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, and there is a red donation box near the main office.

The YCAN cohort is finishing at the end of the semester, but Thibeau hopes the students volunteer in other ways through Riverview High’s Youth In Action group, as well as continuing to take an interest in supporting those experiencing homelessness.

The students are attending a Greater Moncton Homelessness Steering Committee meeting to hear from frontline groups on what the needs are and what initiatives are being done to help the vulnerable populations. They will start distributing donations to the various organizations next week.

Through the YCAN meetings, the students said they made friendships, learned to give back, gained volunteer hours, and were able to use their involvement on their resumes.