Spirit of community giving

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This article was published 25/12/2022 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was a cold Christmas Day, but dozens of Bear Clan volunteers spent the day handing out warmth to Winnipeggers in need.

Around 30 volunteers with the community non-profit’s annual Christmas convoy handed out the contents of a five-ton truck filled with jackets, blankets, boots, mittens and other warm clothes to shelters across the city in just a few short hours. At one shelter, they brought out hot chocolate for anyone willing to brave the cold for a quick drink. At times, they’d be joined by others hoping to do a good deed on the holiday — at one point, a truck pulled up with hot dogs to hand out, another group brought fast food burgers.

It might have been cold, but it was a perfect day for handing out donations, Bear Clan executive director Kevin Walker said Sunday.

“I’m feeling pretty good, we’ve got to get going, and it’s going to be a great day,” he said.

Christmas brings extra volunteers and donations to Bear Clan, Walker said, and the donations are sorely needed.

“We’re trying to get out as many resources as we can to the community,” he said.

Shawn Stonehouse has been staying at Siloam Mission for two years, and living on the streets for around three. There’s a lot to choose from amongst Bear Clan’s handouts, but he keeps it simple — just some snacks. He splits his time between Siloam, bus shelters and anywhere he can get some peace.

“It’s not terrible, I wouldn’t say that,” he said. “It’s a shelter, right?”

He has a few dollars, so he’s spending his Christmas afternoon walking to the nearby church to grab soft drinks for him and a friend. He said it’s nice to see the joy these kinds of donations bring to the people he stays with at the shelter.

“It’s just another day,” he joked. “But I appreciate it, though. It helps, you know? It does. I’m not always trying to think about myself, either — at least it’s good to see other people getting things. I appreciate it.”

At this point, Stonehouse is interrupted by Bear Clan volunteer Lorne Proutt, who encourages him to take from a box of granola bars. When Stonehouse takes one, Proutt laughs, shakes the box, and encourages him to take as many as he’d like. They say goodbye to each other, Stonehouse’s arms filled with granola bars.

Volunteers, donning bright vests and tuques, ranged from occasional members to longtime alumni. Proutt is the latter.

“I love it. I volunteer once a week, all the time. Once a week, twice a week… and on Christmas, I come,” he said.

It’s an important day for Proutt, who devoted himself to volunteering after he retired. He said he’d encourage anyone considering volunteering more in the new year to jump in.

“It’s a wonderful thing, the people you meet are amazing,” he said.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca