Christmas Kindness
Sabrina Bovee and others in Indian Head are participating in a “Christmas Kindness” project to assist people in Regina who need a little extra help this holiday season.
According to a Point-in-Time Count in September 2021, there were 488 individuals experiencing homelessness in Regina. This is a significant increase from 286 people who identified as homeless in the previous survey in 2018. The 2021 report noted that this is “merely a snapshot of the homelessness situation” and “efforts like this… greatly under count homelessness in a city.”
One of the organizations in Regina offering assistance to individuals in these circumstances is Mobile Crisis Services. It provides 24-hour help for people experiencing mental illness or homelessness, or other difficult situations. More than four hundred people ac-cessed the centre’s crisis intervention programing in October. In response to this overwhelming need, Sabrina Bovee has organized an initiative called “Christmas Kindness.”
Bovee lives on a farm outside of Indian Head and has always felt that it is important to model kindness for her son. Some time ago, she began carrying Tim Horton’s gift cards in her purse to give to people they saw could use a hot meal. A friend adopted the idea, later expanding it to include care packs that she and Bovee carried in their cars to give to people they met.
“Last Christmas, we had a tragedy in my family related to mental health and I needed to do something; I needed to help people and it had to be mental health related,” Bovee told Grasslands News. “We found that Mobile Crisis was in need; I started messaging a few friends and it just kind of took off.”
She started a Facebook page called “Christmas Kindness,” making it public so that more people could participate. Community support enabled her to donate approximately $3,700 worth of care packs. Mobile Crisis appreciated the help and those who donated were also encouraged.
“People said it was so positive even for their own mental health at the end of the pandemic last year,” Bovee recalled. “Just to see all of the wonderful donations being shared was really inspiring.”
Bovee determined to make the project an annual initiative and is hoping to raise $8,000 for this year’s “Christmas Kindness” project.
“It was the most beautiful thing last year,” she said. “Of all the Christmas things I’ve ever done, it felt like this is the spirit and the love that Christmas is about so I decided I have to do this every year – this has to be a tradition!”
To reach her goal, Bovee is accepting monetary donations as well as specific items. She contacted the director at Mobile Crisis Services who helped her create a list of things that will help meet basic needs. These include warm clothing like toques, mittens or gloves, scarves, socks and hygiene items such as tooth brushes, toothpaste, soap and shampoo.
Bovee said that hand-knitted hats, mitts, and scarves are welcome. She is expanding the program to work with seniors who would be interested in knitting for next year’s collection. This partnership could enable seniors who may feel lonely to participate in a meaningful project.
Donors for “Christmas Kindness 2022” can either purchase particular items or assemble a full kit themselves. Bovee and other volunteers will also sort donated items and assemble kits for the Mobile Crisis Services staff to distribute.
Bovee is collecting money or gift cards as well since there is a Tim Horton’s near the Mobile Crisis Services office and $5 gift cards can be given to clients for a hot drink. Gift cards for Dollar Tree, Dollarama, and Walmart are also useful for staff to purchase other things that clients need.
Bovee will collect donations until Tuesday, Dec. 6; all funds and donations are given entirely to Mobile Crisis Services. For information on how to assemble a kit or to coordinate delivery of donations, Bovee can be contacted through the “Christmas Kindness 2022!” Facebook page or by emailing Sabrina.bovee@gmail.com
“I do the little bit that I can to help but I couldn’t do this without everybody’s generosity,” Bovee commented. “If it means that we could help make someone’s Christmas warm so they’re not sitting there suffering, I feel like we’re doing a good job.”
