Central Alberta’s Safe Harbour Society for Health and Housing is asking people on city streets to pass along a smile during the Christmas season.
Executive director Kath Hoffman said the community has been awesome and Safe Harbour staff have been writing thank you cards “fast and furious” for all the scarves, toques, mitts and other donations for clients using the Winter Inn shelter, the mat program for those under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and People’s Place shelter.
But how about a smile?
“If you consistently walk down the street all the time and nobody makes eye contact with you, or smiles at you or gives that little look of genuine kindness — that’s a real gift to these guys. For anyone,” Hoffman said.
“People need to feel connected. That’s the only thing that will save their life. Can you give a kind smile?”
“That’s what we’d like for Christmas at Safe Harbour — that’s community, that’s caring, that’s Christmas.”
Once people start smiling, it has a tendency to catch on, she said.
Clients at Loaves and Fishes soup kitchen have had plenty of reason to smile this month.
Halina Jarvis, director of Loaves and Fishes, said businesses and people have put on four Christmas suppers there this month.
In previous years, one company would host a meal with all the trimmings. So far, three Christmas dinners have been held with a final one today at 5 p.m. at Loaves and Fishes, located at 6002 54th Ave.
“Today there is an anonymous group coming in. They don’t want anyone to know who they are. They just want to give,” Jarvis said.
But Loaves and Fishes could also use some help throughout the year through regular monetary donations.
“We’re in a crunch right now. We need help. We need operational money.”
The lunch program for students receives a lot of support but that’s not enough, she said.
“If we can’t operate, we can’t have a lunch program.”
Before the Christmas break, the lunch program gave out 278 lunches each day to students in need.
“We would expect to hit about 300 by the end of the (school year). That would be a high if we get there. I don’t think we’ve ever topped 300.”
For more information about Loaves and Fishes, call 403-347-1844 or visit www.reddeerloavesandfishes.com.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com