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Boots for the Terrace homeless

With cold weather having come early this year, local groups have come together to warm the feet of the homeless.
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Dennis Martin tries on some new boots at the All Nations Centre. With him is Terrace and District Community Services Society worker Mike Watson.

With cold weather having come early this year, local groups have come together to keep the feet of homeless people warm – a donation drive driven by money received earlier this year by local lotto millionaire Bob Erb.

“This year we are doing this for the boots, the people that are in need of the boots,” says homeless outreach worker Mike Watson of the Terrace and District Community Services Society (TDCSS).

There were a total of 48 pairs available last week for those who had signed up to receive them.

It was the Erb seed money that financed the purchase and TDCSS then leveraged that amount into buying the all-weather rubber boots at half price from Canadian Tire.

It was the Ksan Society who organized the boot drive in Brolly Square over the course of one day during Homelessness Action Week Oct. 11 to Oct. 17. Homeless needing boots could come out and sign up for a pair, and Ksan also provided a pair of socks to go along with the boots.

Now that the boots are being distributed to those who signed up for them, others want a pair as well and Watson said TDCSS is working on another order.

“Some people are coming in and seeing people get boots and they want them too, but if they have an income then they don’t get them,” said Watson,

Every Monday TDCSS also picks up donated clothing from the Salvation Army that is given out at the All Nations Centre on Sparks, the same location where Ksan also provides 20 sleeping places during  extreme weather periods.