T-shirts help fund youth agency to honour homeless father
New Toronto clothing brand aims to make people aware of struggles many go through
Laura Hesp was appalled when she heard about a Toronto clothing brand selling shirts with words such as “homeless” and “change please” written across.
Trevor Nicholls, founder of the Homeless Toronto brand, said he aimed to raise awareness surrounding homelessness through his clothing line and give back to worthy causes, but was accused of exploiting poverty in the process.
It was especially troubling for Hesp, who has spent the past year organizing and holding fundraisers, meal deliveries and rallies for those living in shelters and on the street.
Her main fundraising technique has been clothing sales, through her brand called Inclusive Love Inc.
For $30, Hesp sells T-shirts with the words “Toronto Loves Everybody,” a spinoff of the “Toronto vs Everybody” brand, to promote inclusivity while raising funds for her efforts. She said she’s also donated many of the shirts to those in shelters. “When I saw that Homeless TO thing, it was pretty much a slap in the face because that’s what I actually do for real,” said Hesp, 26.
For her, it’s personal. Wednesday marks the one-year anniversary of her father’s death. For a while before he died, Doug was homeless but his daughter didn’t even know. Hesp is hosting a gathering Wednesday at Yonge-Dundas Square. She and a group of at least 20 people will be there after 5 p.m. wearing Inclusive Love Inc.’s Tshirts, holding up signs that say “free hugs” and handing out stickers.
She will also be handing out free T-shirts. The caveat is that if you want one, you have to join her cause and stand with the group “spreading love” at Yonge and Dundas.
The idea is to have as many people as possible gathering to talk about homelessness in a positive, inclusive atmosphere. “It’s more about showing people that it takes more than just money to get involved,” she said. “You have to get off your computer, come out, help us.”
Hesp said her father died last year at age 62 when he was found alone in a motel room. She was told it was due to natural causes.
“My dad hid it (homelessness) from me for a couple years,” she said. “I think that there was a lot of guilt and shame from him that he tried to hide it, which really makes me so sad.”
Ever since, she’s been working to rid the stigma associated with homelessness. She’s pledged to donate $20 from all sales through April and May to Eva’s Initiatives for Homeless Youth and is also raising money for the organization through an online campaign.
“I decided to just try and do something positive for them,” Hesp said. “I really just wanted to show that people don’t always just exploit homeless people. There are good people, there are good organizations. There’s good stuff happening in the city.”