Boot, sock drive seeks donations
Remembering a childhood where going without at times is fresh in her memory, Alisha Tobin, organizer of the Fire Pit Winter Boot and Sock Drive, is asking Prince George residents to donate to the cause.
Those who are considered at-risk, vulnerable and living on the streets of Prince George are in need of winter footwear to protect against the elements during our harshest season.
Distribution of winter boots and socks for men, women and children takes place in the afternoon of Nov. 7 and donation of all gently-used items takes place on Saturday at the Fire Pit Cultural Centre, 1120 Third Ave., between
1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and before noon on the day of the main event.
Tobin said she doesn’t like to see anyone go without.
“My grandfather (Omar Hason) had a store (Honest Omar’s) downtown many years ago,” said, Tobin explaining the inspiration behind the event.
“Some of his favourite stories were of the people who would come in that he would give a sandwich to or even something like toothpaste and he would always say that if you could even help one person a day, you were doing a good job.”
Tobin talked about being raised by a single mom and at times it was a bit of a struggle. She said her extended family was a large one and hand-me-downs were part of life until she got taller than everyone else and then her family turned to the Salvation Army to get clothes that would fit her.
“There was no Facebook or social media to ask for help like there is now so we had to go to any outlet we could find,” she said. “So that’s what inspired me the most. Every year when it starts to get colder I always ask myself what can I do that would benefit people.”
Tobin said she didn’t know where to start until she brought up the subject with mother-in-law Judy Mitchell, who works for Positive Living North, the community service organization which runs the Fire Pit for those at risk in the community.
“I was spitting out ideas and we were talking about it and it became a thing,” she smiled.
Between Mitchell reaching out to the people she knew and Tobin reaching out to the people she knew, the event took shape.
“The support shown throughout the community has already been great,” Tobin said.
“Prince George is a great town for this sort of thing.”