Give the gift of warmth

A North Okanagan Outreach Program is in need of donations, especially during the holiday season.

The Cammy LaFleur Street Outreach Program in Vernon aims at providing help to those who are homeless, drug addicted and/or suffering from a mental illness.

"When you go out there and you're cold and you see people out there with no gloves and not proper clothing and they're very cold and you're handing out hand warmers, feet warmers and added clothing, they're very grateful because it gives them immediate relief," said Alison Houweling, outreach and education, Cammy LaFleur Street Outreach Program.

Each year, especially going into the colder months, the outreach program looks for donations of all kinds.

"Some of the biggest things and these are the things in particular when we do our street outreach at night, is people are in need of gloves, socks, hand and feet warmers, underwear is huge, especially size small, and maybe even thermal undershirts or thermal underwear would be helpful," Houweling said.

Food donations are also accepted.

"We do take food donations," she said. "Things that we can hand out just for people to come in and have a snack while they're here."

All cash donations go directly to purchasing important items for the clients.

Despite tension recently among the homeless entrenched community and the working community in Vernon, Houweling says the outreach program is still receiving great local support.

"There is that component to our community where people are angry at the homeless but there also is so many very caring, wonderful people."

To donate please call the outreach program at  250-545-3572.

The Cammy LaFleur Street Outreach Program also provides free drug testing for fentanyl at the Vernon Downtown Primary Care Centre.

The drug testing takes place every Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. with the exception of holidays.