Officials say a record number of Backpacks of Love were recently donated to several frontline organizations that assist the unhoused in North Bay.
The Compassionate Committee for the Homeless in North Bay says the community has once again stepped up to support those in need.
103 backpacks filled with donated essential items were packed and distributed on Saturday, June 6.
Officials say they partnered with Just Socks this year, enabling the committee to provide six pairs of socks per backpack.
“Once again, we had a great outpouring of generosity and compassion from the community,” says Leah Pierce, chairperson for the Compassionate Committee for the Homeless in North Bay. “A heartfelt thank-you to North Bay churches who donated socks and other essential items, to Trinity United Church whose Sunday School children created cards with messages of hope and love for each backpack, to Handbag of Hope Ministry for providing crocheted cross key chains, and to the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption The Catholic Women’s League of Canada and Knights of Columbus 1007 who donated monies.”
This was the seventh Backpacks of Love campaign.
The committee, which was formed in Feb. 2021, is made up of the faithful from churches primarily in North Bay’s downtown, who have joined together to address the immediate needs of the unhoused.
