Toronto, Ontario – Living on the streets is hard enough in the best weather, but frigid winter temperatures turn discomfort into a life-threatening situation for many of Toronto’s less fortunate citizens. On Saturday, January 17th, volunteers for Engage and Change will distribute 3000 cold weather survival kits to those in need through homeless shelters, social services and outreach providers across the GTA, providing vital necessities to help them survive winter in the city.
Canada Cartage, the country’s largest outsourced fleet provider, has supported these important initiatives for a number of years; this week, they will deliver 3000 sleeping bags and four skids of water to keep those in need warm and hydrated.
“Canada Cartage is a vital part of our program,” says Jody Steinhauer, Founder of Engage and Change and the Project Winter Survival initiative. “They volunteer their trucks and drivers every year, sponsoring our programs and getting vital supplies to the people who need them most.”
Now in its 16th year, Project Winter Survival provides sleeping bags, blankets, winter hats, scarves and gloves, toiletries, water and healthy snacks to people living on Toronto streets. Since starting in 1999, their volunteers have packed and distributed over 26,000 kits to those at risk. The organization relies solely on corporate and community donations to meet the growing demand, and that’s where sponsors like Canada Cartage come in.
“This initiative is a real lifeline for agencies who front-line poverty and homelessness,” says Steinhauer. “The kits we send out with the help of Canada Cartage and other sponsors and volunteers are an incredible important tool for helping outreach providers approach people living on the streets, helping to get them indoors, into transitional housing, and eventually ending the debilitating cycle of poverty.”
Canada Cartage has been involved in both Project Winter Survival and in Project Water, both Engage and Change initiatives, for a number of years. Paul Hanson, who manages operations for Canada Cartage, is proud of the effort his company puts into helping those in need.
“Our logistics experience quickly and dependably gets Project Winter Survival items to the people who need them,” he says. “Because this is something we do every day, all across Canada, it’s great to be able to put that expertise to work in our community, delivering these life-saving kits to help people get through harsh winters – and know that there’s someone out there looking out for them.
About Canada Cartage
Founded in 1914, Canada Cartage is Canada’s largest provider of outsourced fleet solutions, providing dedicated equipment and drivers to both small and large firms. Canada Cartage also provides a complete range of supply chain and logistics services under its subsidiary companies including Direct Distribution Centres, Direct2Home home delivery services, and third-party logistics through its FMS (Freight Management Services) division. For more information, visit http://www.canadacartage.com or see Canada Cartage’s LinkedIn profile.
About Project Winter Survival
Project Winter Survival is an Engage and Change initiative committed to helping those less fortunate endure the hardships of winter by providing such necessities for the needy as: sleeping bags, blankets, winter hats, toiletries, bottled water and healthy snacks, etc.
Since its inception in 1999 and including this campaign, Project Winter Survival will have packed and distributed 26,000 survival kits to those at risk of death by exposure to the elements, and relies solely on corporate and community donations to meet the growing demands of relief agencies and shelters across the GTA.
For more information or to make a donation, visit http://www.projectwintersurvival.org or https://www.engageandchange.org.
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