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Local social work students step up to help area shelters

Class of 25 students collect donations, pack 70 bags of toiletries and sundries; 'I know this will make our clients feel supported,' Lighthouse staffer says

Melissa Franklin sorted through the plastic bag’s items, clucking like a mother hen over her precious eggs.

Franklin helped spearhead an original class campaign – where students would collect and donate 70 bags of various toiletries and sundries to two local shelters – if their teacher would let them skip their exam.

“It feeds my soul,” Franklin said in the parking lot of the Lighthouse Soup Kitchen and Shelter, Friday morning.

Lifting a heavily-laden box of individually packaged bags, Franklin was one of 25 Georgian College Social Service Worker students participating in the community donation project called #thegivingeffect.

“This feels good. I want to do more, I think I’ve found my niche,” she said. “If I can make a difference in my clients’ lives and give them a little bit of self- respect and dignity, it’s so worth it.”

Students had collected toothpaste, toothbrushes, mints, socks, soap, tiny shampoos, combs, sanitary products, Band-Aids and more to donate to both the Green Haven Women’s Shelter, as well as the Lighthouse.

Churches, hotels, families and friends donated items or money to the cause and Professor Sarah Budd approved the project.

“I’m so proud of all of you,” Budd said as she helped package the boxes.

The Introduction to Social Service Work class is one of two dozen courses the students will take over an accelerated 16-month period to learn about the social services industry.

Students will be employed in positions such as addictions or shelter in-take counsellors, outreach and youth court workers, as well as transition counsellor or health-centre assistants.

The Lighthouse’s housing support worker, Teal Wise, accepted the boxes of donations with gratitude.

“We’ve never had a Georgian College donation like this before. I know this will make our clients feel supported by the community,” Wise said.

With 14 beds for men, and a daily soup kitchen that serves about 50 lunches daily, Wise said the Lighthouse is a transient shelter for many of its clients, who move on each month.

Although the shelter doesn’t allow children to stay, one little boy who arrived at lunchtime, grabbed a box of dinosaur toys and ran from her office giggling.

Students weren’t the only people making special deliveries Friday morning. Outside the shelter, Dwayne Hunter was unloading his trunk of donuts he’d picked up from the Mariposa Market.

“My wife’s on the committee at St. Paul’s United Church,” Hunter said. “We’ve been doing this for more than 10 years.”

International student Agnal Antony, 18, arrived in Canada Jan. 1 to study social service work.

“This is all new to me,” Antony said. “Being with you guys, I feel happy I did something for society.”

(Story submitted by Cheryl Browne on behalf of class)


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