Make The Holidays Brighter For Women In Need

For women experiencing homelessness, the holiday season can be a particularly challenging time.

But a national charity hopes something as simple as a shoebox can help bring a smile to their face.

The Shoebox Project for Women collects and distributes shoeboxes filled with gifts for women who are impacted by homelessness.

“A shoebox gift is really a powerful reminder for a woman that she has not been forgotten,” said Kevin Morrison, agency manager at Allstate Insurance in Saint John, which is acting as a drop-off location for shoeboxes.

The Shoebox Project for Women was founded in 2011 by four sisters-in-law in Toronto, Ont.

They wanted to collect 156 shoeboxes to serve the women living at one family shelter in the city. Instead, they ended up with 400 shoeboxes — enough for women using four local shelters.

Eight years later, the project has grown to include communities across Canada and the United States.

“The holiday season can be particularly challenging, so these women sometimes report feeling very disconnected from society and invisible and alone,” said Morrison.

“We hear a lot of stories about how these women are touched by the gesture.”

Morrison said the idea is to fill shoeboxes with items which would make a woman feel special. That could include things like makeup, gift cards, skincare, chocolate, socks and mittens.

“Donors are also encouraged to write a really warm greeting or message to put in the shoebox,” he said.

Allstate in Saint John hopes to collect around 100 shoeboxes for the Coverdale Centre for Women. As of late last week, they had about 50.

If you do not have time to fill a shoebox, Morrison said you can always drop off items at their office at 535 Westmorland Road and they can do it for you. The deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 11.