Giving Back to Mission Services of London this Holiday Season
Written by: Olivia Piro, 4th year MIT + Women's Studies
Photo by: Nico Smit on Unsplash
We can all agree that the past few years have been especially tough, and your last holiday season may have been compromised due to the pandemic. Although this year, we’re lucky to have regained some sense of normalcy in terms of restrictions around gatherings.
For others, however, the pandemic has left them struggling. The unhoused population here in London, ON. has spiked dramatically in the face of hardships presented by the pandemic. This crisis is affecting individuals of all walks of life, including families.
This holiday season, I’ll be supporting the Mission Services of London by donating my time and resources. This non-profit charitable organization has been working to extend services and to advocate for the most vulnerable individuals in our community since 1951.
Operating through municipal and provincial government funding, as well as largely through donations, the organization provides unhoused people with shelter, food, clothing, counselling, support services, and more. They also run five branches of support services, which are the Men’s Mission & Rehabilitation Centre, the Community Mental Health Programs, the Rotholme Women’s & Family Shelter, the Quintin Warner House, and The Mission Store.
Mission Services of London accepts donations of food (canned goods, dry goods, fresh produce, prepared foods, juice, coffee, infant formula, and more.), as well as clothes, shoes, and household goods. Upon donation, you may request that your items not be placed for sale, rather donated directly to those in need at no cost to them.
In order to prepare my donation, I went through my closet and looked for warm clothes that I don’t get much use out of. This mainly included sweaters, socks, sweatpants, and leggings. For individuals bearing the cold this holiday season, these items can be crucial for layering and keeping them warm. Next, I took a look in my pantry at the food items that I haven’t touched and don’t foresee myself eating in the near future. Instead of hanging on to these items until they expire, I’d prefer they go to someone in need.
This holiday season, if you have the ability to extend your personal resources to those in need, the Mission Services of London is a great organization to donate to that will directly impact the community you’re living in.
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