Organizers with the Backpacks of Love Campaign are impressed with the City of North Bay's help as the drive recently hit its goal of 200 backpacks.
The campaign initiative started just over a month ago and is organized by the Compassionate Committee for the Homeless of North Bay.
“As soon as the ask was made back in June, members of the North Bay community including businesses, our faith community, and individuals donated essential items and cash,” explains Rebecca Riesen, lead organizer of the Backpacks of Love in a release.
“It was extremely humbling to see how generous everyone was.”
The Compassionate Committee for the Homeless in North Bay was created just eight months ago, and based on research conducted, the Backpacks of Love campaign was born.
“With 9 churches involved, and 17 volunteers through faith, service and social justice we are addressing the urgent needs of the homeless and will engage with all levels of government to ensure that homelessness is front and centre in the political arena,” states Leah Pierce, chairperson.
When dropping off backpacks to front-line organizations such as HOPE’s Heroes, the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre, the Gathering Place, and Boots on the Ground, the homeless were amazed at the generosity that the backpacks represented.
Some even had heard about the Compassionate Committee for the Homeless in North Bay.
The faith-filled committee is now looking at starting a winter campaign to start in the fall.
The committee is made up of the faithful from churches primarily in North Bay’s downtown, who have joined together to address the immediate needs of the homeless. Its goal is to work with the City of North Bay, existing support services and organizations to find homes for the homeless who want them. Each committee member has received a calling by the Holy Spirit to help the homeless.