On Saturday, October 22nd, for the third year in a row, The Salvation Army Recycling Terminal in Oakville helped to facilitate the preparation of transitional housing kits for clients at Gateway Men’s Shelter in downtown Toronto.

A team of 20 people, including Salvation Army NRO employees Derek Gamelin and Bill May along with volunteers and staff from Gateway and Hockey Helps the Homeless, were at the Terminal to build kits designed to help Gateway clients transition into their first new home or accommodation.

With stacks of donated Rubbermaid bins on hand, the assembly line of enthusiastic volunteers worked throughout the day to fill each bin with brand new items such as dishes, utensils, a pot and frying pan, pillow, sheet set, toiletries, towels and many more essentials to help Gateway clients get a few steps ahead in their new life.

This year’s edition to the transition kits included alarm clocks – with the hope that they will be used to wake the men up for the new jobs that they will find.

The contents of the kits were made possible thanks to the generous donation of $10,000 by Hockey Helps the Homeless.

Dion Oxford, Gateway Director, says 100 per cent of the donation was used to purchase all the items for the kits.

“These kits will be used during the coming year to help every single man that we at Gateway help to get off the streets and into their own apartments. The volunteer labour to help make the kits coupled with the use of The Salvation Army’s warehouse free of charge help to make this dream a reality,” said Dion.

Derek Gamelin, Distribution Manager for The Salvation Army, NRO, was thrilled to be able to assist Gateway once again in setting up their kits.

“We know the importance of giving a helping hand and there is no doubt that these kits will be monumental to the lives of the men who receive them,” said Derek.

In all, the team prepared 144 transitional housing kits which will be stored at the Oakville Terminal until they are ready to be delivered to the recipients.

Acknowledgments:

We would like to extend a special thank you to the volunteers from The Salvation Army Church in downtown Toronto for their assistance in preparing the kits and The Bargains Group for their generous product donations.