Local Key Clubs Collect Blankets, Sleeping Bags For Homeless

By Ralph Tweedie, Manotick Kiwanis Club

It’s often said that Christmas is a time of giving. As we approach the holidays, our Key Clubs have really met the challenge. The St. Mark High School Key Club and it’s Kiwanis advisor, Terry Tomkins, launched a project to collect blankets, comforters, sleeping bags, etc. for the homeless.

This inspired our other three Key Clubs to join and make this an inter club project. The community, in turn, has embraced the idea and overwhelmed our collection sites with blankets and warm indoor/outdoor winter clothing.

The Manotick Legion storage area was soon overflowing with blankets. The Anglican Church joined in to provide more storage space. We’ve just begun collections and Terry and Bruce Tomkins have already delivered 72 blankets to the Shepherds of Good Hope and the Salvation Army depots downtown, which were extremely welcome.

The work of our Kiwanis Key Clubs has so inspired the Kiwanis Club of Manotick that we have approved donations of $3,000 each to The Mission, The Shepherds of Good Hope and the Salvation Army. This money will help provide warm meals to the Ottawa homeless at this special time of year.

During the winter months, there is an urgent and continuous need for winter clothing and blankets for the homeless. It is a huge and never-ending problem. The young leaders in our Key Clubs have recognized the need and decided to do something about it. They appealed to residents of Manotick and the surrounding areas in the south of Ottawa. So far, the response has been outstanding. But the drive is still ongoing.

If you can help, please do. Blankets, sleeping bags, and winter clothing in good repair can be dropped off at either the Manotick Legion or the Anglican Church office.

We are very proud of our Key Clubs and of our community. For over sixty years you have supported us. It really does take a village.

The Kiwanis Club of Manotick wishes you Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas.

Featured Image: High School students from local Kiwanis Key Clubs have been collecting blankets, comforters and sleeping bags for homeless people.