This shoebox full of goodies will help a woman in need this holiday season

A little shoebox full of essentials will be brightening up the holiday season for many women in Waterloo region.

And for the first time this year, the Shoebox Project for Women will also be putting together gender neutral boxes.

Nimi Clare, coordinator for the Kitchener-Waterloo chapter, said the boxes are typically packed with makeup products like lipstick, eyeliner and nail polish, along with other essentials like body wash and deodorant.

In comparison, a gender neutral box wrapped in a neutral colour will not include an reference to a particular gender.

"Things more neutral would go into those boxes," said Clare. "There is a logo that we can put on the box so the shelter will be more aware that this is more of a neutral box. So toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner could be chocolate, candy and those sorts of things."

She said the shoeboxes also include inspirational messages of support for the women who receive them.

"It's just a little something... just a couple lines to say someone out there cares."

The last day to make a donation is Dec. 5.

Impact on those experiencing 'invisible homelessness'

The shoeboxes wrapped in Waterloo region are distributed to three local shelters: Marillac Place, the YWCA of Kitchener and Healing of the Seven Generations.

Julie Walder is executive director of Marillac Place, a group that helps pregnant women and mothers in need. 

"It's such a blessing to the mums when they come into our program to have some of these items, especially some of the the pieces that a lot of us might take for granted such as having nail polish," she said.

Walder said the Shoebox Project tends to the needs of a group that is often overlooked — women impacted by homelessness.

"There is a lot of invisible homelessness when it comes to women who, for many reasons, are afraid to come forward, leaving a very difficult situation ... or a partner-based situation where now there's nowhere to call home and they end up with us," she said.

"[The Shoebox] really is a significant statement that there's people that care about you and you're not alone."