“As we move closer to the winter season, let’s show love to our relatives who are surviving difficult times.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 28, 2023
ANISHINAABE AND DAKOTA TERRITORY, MB — Today, the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is pleased to announce our second annual donation drive to support our unhoused relatives living in Winnipeg.
The latest Winnipeg Street Census found that Indigenous people are vastly over-represented among people experiencing homelessness in Winnipeg—68 per cent of the people surveyed were Indigenous. Nearly 9 out of 10 of Indigenous people experiencing homelessness live outdoors and are unsheltered. In many cases, they are also living with mental health issues and trauma associated with residential and day schools, and are some of the citizens who face the most barriers in the city.
“When I spend time in various parts of Winnipeg, there are many painful reminders of the homelessness and poverty our urban relatives are experiencing,” said SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels. “This time of year can be difficult for many people. I encourage Manitoba residents to embrace the spirit of the season and support our donation drive to help spread love and show care to our relatives who are unhoused.”
SCO has chosen the Main Street Project as this year’s beneficiary for our donation drive. Every year during the holiday season, the Main Street Project gathers donated items and assembles more than 500 gift packages so that each of their community members has their own gift to open the morning of December 25th.
SCO will support the development of the gift packages by accepting the following donations:
- Blankets: Emergency and fleece blankets
- Clothing: socks, underwear (new items only)
- Combs and brushes
- Handwarmers
- Kleenex, toilet paper, and Wet Ones
- Playing cards
- Toiletries: bars of soap, deodorant/antiperspirant, lip balm, menstrual products, razors and shaving cream, shampoo, toothpaste
- Treats/snacks: Candy canes, chocolates, granola bars
- Winter clothing: mittens, scarves, toques
Anyone who would like to donate items for this initiative can drop donations at two locations during our business hours, which are from Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm:
- SCO Winnipeg sub-office at 1572 Dublin Avenue
- SCO Winnipeg sub-office at 202-600 Empress Street (please come to the second floor to drop off donations)
SCO will be accepting donations until, and at our open house, on December 19, 2023.
For more information, contact us at 204-946-1869.
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The Southern Chiefs’ Organization represents 34 First Nations and more than 85,500 citizens in what is now called southern Manitoba. SCO is an independent political organization that protects, preserves, promotes, and enhances First Nations peoples’ inherent rights, languages, customs, and traditions through the application and implementation of the spirit and intent of the Treaty-making process.
For media inquiries:
Email: Media@scoinc.mb.ca