There are toy drives, toy teas, and food drives to help families in need get through the holiday season.
There's also a Shoebox Project for Women.
Local realtor, Shannon Murree, brought it to Barrie and Simcoe County nine years ago, specifically for women and girls. "We are looking for luxury items, anything between, you know, like a luxurious soap or shampoos, nothing sharp, nothing with alcohol, up to $50 worth."
Murree says it's something that's fun for schools, for the whole family, for a corporation, for friends getting together, throwing stuff together in a shoebox, and donating it to women and girls who are homeless or at risk.
We Had A Chat With Shannon Murree On The Latest Episode Of Our Podcast
How great is the need? Murree walked out of a Barrie big box store this week with 290 plastic shoeboxes to be filled. "Definitely over the last couple of years, we've seen an increase in everything … whether it's the cost of everything going up, challenges in people's lives, addictions, mental health, (some) just on the cusp of homelessness."
Murree rarely meets any of the recipients, to see the impact the Shoebox Project for Women is having. She does sometimes hear from the organizations she works with or the caseworkers. And once in a while, "one of the recipients comes back, and they're out of their situation, and they remember how the shoebox made them feel, and now they're volunteers for us."
Click here for a list of drop-off locations, how to make a cash donation, or how to get involved.
"We're just trying to do something special for the women and girls, just to remind them that they're empowered, and they're special, and they're not forgotten during the holidays."
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The Shoebox Project for Women is featured in this week's 'What Barrie's Talking About' podcast.
banner image: shoeboxproject.ca/simcoe
