A group of friends has joined forces this holiday season to bring some cheer to homeless people in Langley, Surrey and downtown Vancouver.
“Hopefully this will be the start of something and it will get better every year,” said Cozie Toes organizer and Langley resident Moira Fynes, who, with the help of 10 friends from around the Fraser Valley, will hit the streets on Christmas Eve to deliver home-baked goodies and winter essentials to those in need.
They plan to give out Christmas bags containing warm socks and gloves, along with fresh baking. The response has been so supportive that Fynes says plans are in the works to hand out goods on New Year’s Day as well.
The group is still looking for a larger local retailer that may be interested in matching or contributing donations of warm winter socks.
The group has been working on the project since the beginning of December, collecting $300 from family and friends in donations and baking and freezing a variety of treats.
Fynes says the small group was kickstarted by a simple desire to contribute to their community in a more hands-on way during the season.
“It was just a group of us trying to figure out what we can do to reach out at Christmas,” she said.
Originally, Fynes and her friends planned to serve soup and sandwiches, but after speaking with people on the street and at local shelters, they learned that warm clothing is an even bigger need.
At this point, she said, all donations will go to buy as many pairs of warm wool socks as possible to deliver to those living out in the elements.
Anyone interested in contributing can find Cozie Toes on Facebook or email cozietoes@gmail.com.
