Islamic Relief preps 200 kits for homeless people in London and St. Thomas, Ont., this winter

Young volunteers, all masked up, gathered in the gymnasium of London Muslim Mosque on Oxford Street in the late afternoon Tuesday, assembling cloth bag kits with "Filled with hope" written across them. 

Found inside are warm winter clothes, sanitation products, masks and hand sanitizer. This is part of Islamic Relief Canada's Share the Warmth campaign. About 200 kits for people experiencing homelessness in London and St. Thomas were assembled by volunteers. 

The campaign has been held in London for the last three years, but it'll be a first for St. Thomas.

"There is a need," said regional funds coordinator with Islamic Relief Canada, Saimah Sarwar. "With the pandemic, it's gotten greater. We just felt like it's getting cold now, so now's the time to get in there and get them what they need to keep them as warm as possible for the coming winter months."

Sixty of the kits will be distributed through the St. Thomas Islamic Centre. The other 140 will go to the London's Hyatt Mosque.

They'll be given out this Saturday during the Muslim Soup Kitchen, which is happening at the Hyatt Mosque, and on Sunday in St. Thomas, also during a soup kitchen event. 

200 warm meals provided 

Londoners prepare winter survival kits for those in need

3 years ago

Duration 0:12

Volunteers with Islamic Relief Canada gathered to assemble some 200 winter kits as part of the charity's annual Share the Warmth campaign for the unhoused.

In the past, there has been a positive response for the people experiencing homelessness who used the program, Sarwar said.  

"They were giving us well-wishes," said Sarwar. "They were bringing their friends and saying, 'You know, these people are giving us these great things,' and they're very grateful. Just seeing how grateful they were makes it so much better."

Twenty-four other cities across the country will be participating in the program, distributing kits locally.