Nicholas YeeWith the winter season almost in full swing and the holidays nearly upon us, many charitable organizations and care centres in the city are seeking donations of warm winter clothing from generous donors. Basic winter clothing such as coats, socks, toques, scarves, and mittens can help combat the threats of frostbite and hypothermia within the homeless population in the city.
If you have any spare, rarely-used clothes lying around your attic or basement, you could always donate those clothes to the less fortunate braving the cold streets of Edmonton this winter! See some of the best places in Edmonton to drop off your donations below.
Hope Mission
Address:9908-106 Ave NW, T5H 2N7
The Hope Mission, located in the McCauley neighbourhood, provides basic and emergency care to many homeless individuals in the city.
Founded in 1929, this non-profit Christian organization also offers counselling services and temporary shelter options to the community. The Hope Mission employs a winter rescue van service that can be dispatched to individuals experiencing a non-emergency crisis. On any given day, hundreds of meals are prepared by volunteers and served daily at the Hope Mission.
Bissell Centre
Address: 10527-96 Street, Edmonton, AB T5H 2H6
The Bissell Centre, also located in the McCauley neighbourhood, provides support programs on an individual, family, and community level. This organization provides temporary childcare for children up to six years old in low-income families, support services for victims of crime, and outreach housing services.
The main facility of the Bissell Centre (10530-96 Street)is currently undergoing interior renovations to help increase access to community supports and provide more comprehensive services to the homeless population in Edmonton.
Boyle Street Community Services
Address: 10116 105 Avenue NW, T5H 0K2
Boyle Street Community Services, located in the Central McDougall neighbourhood, works to combat poverty and homelessness in the inner city by providing community supports to individuals. Founded in 1971, this organization assists over 9,000 individuals each year through their services offered at their drop-in centre. Boyle Street Community Services also offers medical care referrals, mental health counselling, and a food bank for pets.
Boyle Street Community Services has recently started holding bar nights at various local pubs to discuss social issues pervading the community.
YESS
Address: 9310 82 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6C 0Z6
Youth Empowerment and Support Services (YESS for short) on Whyte Ave provides emergency services to youth across Edmonton.
Founded in 1982, YESS offers addictions counselling, legal assistance, and long-term housing advice to adolescents. Their Nexus Shelter serves as a short-term emergency shelter for youth in the community while the Armoury Resource Centre serves as a daytime drop-in centre for youth.
Each year, YESS holds an extravagant gala at the Shaw Conference Centre to help fund youth empowerment programs. 2017’s “Discover Atlantis” Gala successfully raised $220,000.
The Mustard Seed
Address: 10568 114 Street NW, T5H 3J7
The Mustard Seed, located in the Queen Mary Park neighbourhood, delivers basic emergency services, employment advice, and housing assistance for impoverished individuals and families.
Opening in 1988, this non-profit Christian organization offers a meal program Monday through Saturday as well as a food hamper program that caters over 7000 clients yearly. Within the past two years, the Mustard Seed has merged with other local drop-in agencies including The Neighbour Centre and the Mosaic Centre.
