New Westminster, BC — With colder temperatures on the way, New Westminster Fire and Rescue Services is again working with Warming the Homeless to hand out warming kits to those in the city who are experiencing homelessness. This is the second time fire crews have received kits through this initiative, and the packs will be shared with the Crises Response Team; the latter is part of the Crises Response Pilot Project. The kits will be stocked on New Westminster fire trucks, while the outreach team will carry them over the winter months.

“This is a small but meaningful example of a community working together to help one another,” says Mayor Patrick Johnstone. “We are proud to know Randy and Sahar, and to collaborate with them to provide some comfort to vulnerable folks while we find long-term solutions to this ongoing crisis.”

When Warming the Homeless was first established, many of the kits’ components were solely funded by its founders, Randy Wong and Sahar Manochehri. The kits include gloves, toques, teabags, hot cocoa packs, ponchos, winter socks, and hand warmers.

“This is an incredible grassroots initiative we are grateful to be working with,” explains New Westminster Assistant Fire Chief Isabella Li. “Between collecting the items to go into the kits, and the time they spend assembling them and sharing them, we wanted to highlight the care and compassion Randy and Sahar bring to this community.”

Wong and Manochehri are marking the 10^th anniversary of Warming the Homeless this month. On Monday, November 4, they dropped off 25 men’s kits and 15 women’s kits to be distributed.

“We want to let people know that homelessness does not discriminate, and neither do we,” says Wong. “We hope those who receive these kits know they have neighbours in us. We’re here to do what we can to help.”

Wong and Manochehri are working towards registering as a non-profit charity, but they are accepting donations through their website, WarmingtheHomeless.com.

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Contact:

Ria Renouf
Communications Coordinator, Crises Response Pilot Project
City of New Westminster
 or 778-789-0573