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One man meets a need

STEVE KUNAR knew he had to do something when he saw a woman walking outside during an early winter cold snap.

STEVE KUNAR knew he had to do something when he saw a woman walking outside during an early winter cold snap.

She wasn’t wearing proper outdoor clothes and while Kunar could not help her directly the moment he saw her, he’s found a way to make a greater contribution.

And that was by going door-to-door for several blocks around his Horseshoe residence asking people if they could donate clothing.

Together with contributions from friends and family, Kunar collected more than 10 large bags of clothes.

The bags, along with three boxes of other items, were dropped off at the Ksan House Society’s offices Dec. 20.

“I knew she needed help. That’s when I decided to give back anyway I could,” said the 20-year-old about the woman he saw. “I’ve helped out before, but nothing to this extent.”

Kunar’s original goal was to collect clothing for women, but that soon broadened out when he began knocking on doors. “Everyone was friendly. It was perfectly fine.”

Kunar is a Class of 2009 graduate from Caledonia Senior Secondary and is taking criminology at Northwest Community College with the goal of transferring to Simon Fraser University’s criminology degree to finish off his bachelor’s degree requirements.

Kunar’s donations will end up as items that can be taken at no charge by people who can visit a basement room at Ksan two days week.

Marianne Brorup Weston, who develops community programs for the non-profit social services agency, describes the room as more structured than a free store and closer to a Value Village in its offerings.

“You have to make an appointment. Volunteers who need work experience can work there,” she said.

“What’s most needed are clothes for teenage boys,” said Brorup Weston.

Because the room is located in close proximity to the transition house portion of the Ksan Society building, men are not allowed access.