Its mission is quite simple, “Let’s beat the cold together.”
This fall, Every Voice Matters is partnering with local school divisions, the City of Lethbridge and the Lethbridge Police Service to collect winter items for the city’s youth.
Executive Director Suketu Shah says this is the first project the not-for-profit society has launched.
“A lot of kids in the community and from a lot of school divisions, parents can’t afford the clothes to keep kids warm,” notes Shah. “We can beat this cold together, as a city.”
New or lightly-used jackets, toques, mittens, boots, gloves, sweaters and other winter clothes are needed for kids in grades Kindergarten to Grade 12 and for adults (seniors, vulnerable citizens and other people in need).
The target is also to raise between $10,000 to $15,000 to fulfil the need of around 200 items or more to give back to the community, says Shah. Cash donations can be made by contacting the society.
Donations of winter clothes can be dropped off at the Lethbridge Police Service department.
LPS Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh says the initiative will hopefully put warm clothes on some of the city’s youth. “Anything we can do to support our youth, which means an investment in our youth, is an investment in our future. In this city’s future and in this country’s future.”
Shah adds a partnership with the local school divisions is important too, as they’re the ones that know what families need.
Lethbridge School Division Board Chair Christine Light says the school division values removing barriers due to financial strains, so students can focus on their learning and be kids.
“The provincial statistic for children under the age of 15 living in poverty is one in six,” notes Light. “In Lethbridge, that statistic is one in five. Within our school division, we serve over 150 students annually with winter gear. It costs approximately $200 to outfit a student.”
With the rising cost of living, Light says, it’s extremely difficult for more and more families to be able to afford to outfit their kids. “To play in the snow and be kids. We’re so thankful for this initiative.”
“Lethbridge is an incredibly collaborative community. This just shows it’s not just people in education that care for kids. It’s all citizens in our city that are wanting to lift up our kids, so they can learn, play and be happy citizens,” says Light.
